Definition of infernext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word infer distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of infer are conclude, deduce, gather, and judge. While all these words mean "to arrive at a mental conclusion," infer implies arriving at a conclusion by reasoning from evidence; if the evidence is slight, the term comes close to surmise.

from that remark, I inferred that they knew each other

Where would conclude be a reasonable alternative to infer?

In some situations, the words conclude and infer are roughly equivalent. However, conclude implies arriving at a necessary inference at the end of a chain of reasoning.

concluded that only the accused could be guilty

How are the words deduce and infer related?

Deduce often adds to infer the special implication of drawing a particular inference from a generalization.

denied we could deduce anything important from human mortality

When is gather a more appropriate choice than infer?

While the synonyms gather and infer are close in meaning, gather suggests an intuitive forming of a conclusion from implications.

gathered their desire to be alone without a word

In what contexts can judge take the place of infer?

The synonyms judge and infer are sometimes interchangeable, but judge stresses a weighing of the evidence on which a conclusion is based.

judge people by their actions

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of infer Next the team wants to infer the various distances of the structures that the researchers have glimpsed and to use them to make the map more dynamic and three-dimensional. Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 25 Jan. 2026 Observers infer that people who go alone are more genuinely interested in the experience and more focused on its quality, rather than simply going along with someone else’s preferences. Peter McGraw, The Conversation, 23 Jan. 2026 People start to infer meaning from the gap, even when there isn’t any. Penny Abeywardena, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026 As personalization becomes table stakes, a new class of products is emerging that depends not just on data inferred from patterns and history but on deeply personal information that customers are willing to reveal about themselves in the moment. Michelle Taite, Harvard Business Review, 15 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for infer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infer
Verb
  • Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag 1L Leather Alternative Made with faux leather that’s derived from cactus fiber, this belt bag is luxury on the go.
    Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
  • The first of these is alginate (derived from seaweed), which forms a gel when exposed to liquids (such as blood).
    Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 8 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The recent batch of labor market data (both public and private) indicated that there’s a high likelihood that job growth was tepid, that unemployment remained subdued and that health care remained a primary driver of overall hiring.
    Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
  • However, documents indicate that the friendship continued.
    Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The collar will help scientists understand the movement patterns and reproductive behavior of the Sierra Nevada red fox, providing key insights to guide conservation efforts.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Those many Americans who still understand that freedom is the magic elixir that drives growth and prosperity are exiting blue states, leaving them to stew in their left-wing, socialist, low-growth and low-opportunity juices.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Seattle is currently +800 (8-to-1) to win a second straight title, implying a roughly 11 percent chance of a repeat.
    Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • The bank's forecast implies upside of 98% from Friday's close.
    Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 8 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Monitoring high-level athletes for drug misuse is nothing new, but the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) surprised many people recently by deciding to track the use of GLP-1 drugs, such as the diabetes and obesity treatments Ozempic (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide).
    Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Winners of the Lucky for Life top prize of $1,000 a day for life and second prize of $25,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.
    Staff Reports, The Providence Journal, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The White House did not address whether Tuesday’s vote would lead to Trump relying more heavily on executive action — something the president himself seemed to suggest during his interview with Kudlow.
    Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 12 Feb. 2026
  • The ballot measure advanced on Tuesday suggests a temporary 2% increase to the city’s 14% transient occupancy tax — often called a bed or hotel tax — dropping to a permanent post-Games 1% increase starting in 2029.
    Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Manufacturing posted an upside surprise, hinting that hiring may be stabilizing in parts of the economy that had struggled through much of 2025.
    Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026
  • More than a month later, single-stair advocates are still waiting on that report — though a draft version obtained by CalMatters hints that the office may be considering a modest change to the state building code.
    CalMatters, Oc Register, 10 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Infer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infer. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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