inferences

noun

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

Relevance

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 La Liga is yet to release distribution amounts for 2025-26 but, based on previous seasons and inferences which can be drawn from Barca’s latest figures, the amount the club must hand over to Sixth Street is in the region of €40million per year. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 Stevens allowed the case to proceed, noting there were multiple inferences to draw from the evidence and that one interpretation implicated Perillo. — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 8 Sep. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inferences
  1. deductions
  2. conclusions
  3. determinations
  4. consequences
  5. decisions
  6. assumptions
Noun
  • Yes, clubs have fallen foul of slightly breaking Premier League rules in the past and have received points deductions as a result.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026
  • What is likely is point deductions, enforced looking forward, not backward.
    — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of deductions
Noun
  • The most justifiable criticism against the DC detective series is that its mysteries play out wordily, without letting the audience in on how its space cops come to major conclusions.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The expert stressed that the team's field work was complete but that laboratory analysis was still underway before broader conclusions could be drawn.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of conclusions
Noun
  • Although a United Nations panel investigating the Myanmar military referred to genocidal intent, the United Nations does not make official determinations of genocide.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The government expects states to rely increasingly on third-party data — on things such as workers’ compensation claims or prescription information — to help make determinations.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of determinations
Noun
  • The Cornell 7 lawsuit refers to the legal document filed by an unnamed Cornell University student who accused seven men of raping and drugging her at a frat house party in October 2024 — and faced no legal consequences.
    — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
  • But since that process can take years, those decisions can still have important real-world consequences.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of consequences
Noun
  • And the decisions are made quickly, typically within 48 hours.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • And some have said that decisions about data centers should be left to local officials.
    — Maydeen Merino, The Washington Examiner, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of decisions
Noun
  • This moment captures a tension that Said faced in battling assumptions that deep political engagement somehow foreclosed the possibility of other interests.
    — Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Teams can test assumptions, gather feedback and decide whether an idea deserves another iteration or should be left behind.
    — Stephen Clark, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of assumptions

Browse Nearby Words

inference
inferences
inferential
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Inferences.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inferences. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of inscrutable

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All