inferences

plural of inference
as in deductions
an opinion arrived at through a process of reasoning that seems like a reasonable inference, but in this case it happens to be incorrect

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 inferences Every industry needs people who can look at data, draw inferences from it, and act upon it. Dana Taylor, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026 Told in alternating POVs between a sorceress, a woman knight and a serving girl, this is a fever dream of a fantasy novel with plenty of room for readers to make their own inferences about what’s really going on. S.m. Hallow, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026 By holding an entire operational system in view in real time, an AI model can make inferences that human operators could easily miss. William Bain, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 However, rocket watchers have made a few inferences from the limited available information. Mike Wall, Space.com, 16 Aug. 2026 Wolf, with the Birmingham-Bloomfield Democrats, says he is not convinced the nation can draw inferences from what happens in Michigan. Sam Gringlas, NPR, 1 Aug. 2026 Because of the randomness of some of these things and complexities like deletions, many of the individual inferences about history will be wrong. ArsTechnica, 31 July 2026 This requires dealing with contradictory sources, making inferences, performing many web searches, and more, but neither model had any trouble with any of it. Ruben Circelli, PC Magazine, 16 June 2026 But my conclusions about these impacts rest on plausible inferences from what researchers know more generally about cognitive psychology. Christian B. Miller, The Conversation, 4 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inferences
Noun
  • Millionaires may contribute and then take deductions for charitable contributions.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • There were only 4 1⁄8 inches of differences (deductions) from one antler to the other, yielding the net score of 216 5⁄8.
    Richard P. Smith, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Despite the lack of outward signs in Ocean Springs, Nolan’s death has come to mean different things to different people and a lack of answers from authorities has left residents drawing their own conclusions about the circumstances of his death.
    Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • With his final book, however, Morris refuses to draw conclusions, letting the ambiguity of Surrealists’ meanings stand.
    Kelly Presutti, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The conference said its rule would apply independently of the status of NCAA eligibility determinations.
    Aaron Beard, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • That includes making initial determinations about compliance with the injunction, as Nexstar wants, or if those ruling should still be left to the judge, Troy Nunley, as the state AGs and DirecTV want.
    Ted Johnson, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Strong El Niño events, such as the one revving up in the tropical Pacific, have rarely spared the Golden State from significant and damaging consequences.
    Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
  • As the consequences of this strategically catastrophic campaign become ever more apparent, the New Right’s clout is set to grow, having opposed the war from the start.
    Leonard A. Schuette, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Unrivaled remains governed by a 10-player committee, who advise on decisions such as travel and expansion.
    Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Some might wonder why the commission has not already opened an investigation, given the seemingly ample amount of evidence that FIFA does not consult before making big decisions, but Masters took a more diplomatic stance.
    Matt Slater, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • If an employee hesitates or overcommits, avoid making assumptions or asking defensive questions.
    Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The alternative is to allow each side’s strategy to reinforce the other’s worst assumptions until escalation begins to look less like a choice than an inevitability.
    Hamidreza Azizi, Time, 29 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Inferences.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inferences. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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