infer

verb

in-ˈfər How to pronounce infer (audio)
Definition of infernext
1
as in to derive
to form an opinion or reach a conclusion through reasoning and information he inferred that she had left because her coat was gone

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to indicate
to convey an idea indirectly the results infer that there might be a problem with one piece of the equipment

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Until such tests are completed, investigators won’t be able to infer the source of the explosion based only on the size of the blast crater. —Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2025 Thermal asymmetry in the Moon's mantle inferred from monthly tidal response. —Ian Randall, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025 So don’t tell me there are only eight teams better than Miami, as Spoelstra inferred. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 6 May 2025 Range contraction of the Yangtze finless porpoise inferred from classic Chinese poems A graduate of UW-Whitewater, Monica Cull wrote for several organizations, including one that focused on bees and the natural world, before coming to Discover Magazine. —Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 5 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for infer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infer
  1. derive
  2. indicate
  3. understand
  4. imply
  5. decide
  6. suggest
  7. hint
Verb
  • Flag football is categorically different, but the rules and play are derived from the game of football.
    — James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025
  • The $265,000 grant is derived from the Department of Industrial Relations, which receives state funding.
    — Molly Gibbs, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2025
Definition of derive
Verb
  • Coinbase has indicated that cryptocurrency prices are influenced by multi-year cycles that typically last two to four years.
    — Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • Crisp, curly hair indicates a hasty, somewhat impetuous and rash character.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 June 2025
Definition of indicate
Verb
  • To understand how the deportation dragnet works, TIME joined ICE officers on a pair of morning raids in the New Orleans area.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 10 June 2025
  • Ranked from the top, they are understood to be The Eastern Gate, The Thaw, Spain’s When No One Sees Us, X-rated Queen, and A Decent Man.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 10 June 2025
Definition of understand
Verb
  • Roughly 56% of analysts surveyed by FactSet have a buy rating on JPMorgan stock, and the average analyst consensus price target implies about 3% upside.
    — Brian Evans, CNBC, 15 June 2025
  • This seems to imply that, for now, Sajet isn’t going anywhere.
    — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
Definition of imply
Verb
  • Clalit, after a review, decided to dismiss the complaint against Qasem Hassan.
    — Eyal Press, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
  • The attorney general said that after the Supreme Court sided with Glossip earlier this year, his office reviewed the merits of the case against him and decided there is sufficient evidence to secure another conviction.
    — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 9 June 2025
Definition of decide
Verb
  • Hence, Greg Shove, Section AI’s CEO, suggests that boards take an hour every six months to do a really honest check-in: What is the unique value proposition your company currently offers the marketplace, and how good is AI at doing it?
    — Kelly Huang, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed solidarity with the president after the president suggested Newsom should be arrested.
    — Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 9 June 2025
Definition of suggest
Verb
  • Creator Jenny Han has hinted that things may not always stay the same, much like Belly’s relationships with Jeremiah and Conrad.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 12 June 2025
  • Some design elements hint towards modernity, while others gesture towards a period piece a few decades in the past.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 11 June 2025
Definition of hint

Browse Nearby Words

infelicity
infer
inferable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Infer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infer. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

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