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The meaning of SECOND-GUESS is to criticize or question actions or decisions of (someone) often after the results of those actions or decisions are known; also : to engage in such criticism of (an action or decision).
to criticize someone's actions or an event after it has happened: Of course it's easy to second-guess the management of the election campaign, but I do think serious mistakes were made. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. (Definition of second-guess from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)
SECOND-GUESS meaning: 1. to guess what someone will do in the future: 2. to criticize someone's actions or an event…. Learn more.
When you second-guess something, you either predict what will happen in the future, or look back and reevaluate something that happened in the past. You might second-guess your decision to wear shorts after it starts snowing.
- Why Do We Second-Guess Ourselves?
- It Gets Worrisome When It's Excessive
- Some Second-Guessing Isn't Always Bad
- 3 Ways to Stop Second-Guessing Yourself
- More from Better
“People second-guess themselves because they think there are ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ answers or ways of doing things. Since they believe there is the perfect answer to a problem, they get caught in a conundrum of questioning their decisions and wondering if they chose the ‘right’ course,” says Jennifer Guttman, a clinical psychologist based in New York...
According to research, chronic second-guessing may indicate a more serious mental health issue. A 2003 studypublished in the journal "Personality and Individual Differences" found that “those who constantly doubt their own judgment are especially prone to a wide range of psychological problems such as mood swings, lower self-esteem, anxiety and dep...
The upside to second-guessing occasionally is it can indicate that you’re thoughtful or a perfectionist — and that might sometimes serve you well. “Second-guessing can be positive (in moderation) when it prevents impulsive actions,” says Hafeez. “For example, if you’re in the market to buy a home and you see one you love but it’s a bit above your b...
So how can we learn to stop second-guessing ourselves if we do it too much? Here are a few ways to adjust your thought process.
verb. /ˌsekənd ˈɡes/ Verb Forms. [transitive] second-guess somebody/something/yourself to guess what somebody will do before they do it; to guess how you will feel in the future. It was impossible to second-guess the decision of the jury. It's one of the toughest decisions you'll ever make and you may still be second-guessing yourself .
If you try to second-guess something, you try to guess in advance what someone will do or what will happen.
