deduce
Conclude from evidence
To deduce is to reach a conclusion through reasoning from available evidence or premises.
Unlike guessing, deduction follows logically from what's known: From the wet umbrella, she deduced he'd been caught in the rain.
The word implies working backward from effects to causes, or forward from principles to conclusions.
We can deduce from the fossil record that these species coexisted.
Derive by reasoning
- concludeEnd or infer
- surmiseGuess from incomplete information
- extrapolateExtend known data outward
- determineEstablish through investigation
discern · gather · glean · figure out · work out · piece together · puzzle out · reason out
Study with attention
- scrutinizeInspect with close attention
- evaluateDetermine value or quality
- assessJudge worth or quality
- investigateSeek facts systematically
interpret · dissect · parse · deconstruct · study · analyze · diagnose · break down
Hints toward answers
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- mysterySomething unexplained or unknown
- sleuthPrivate investigator
- SherlockIconic Victorian-era investigator
Holmes · Poirot · whodunit · investigation · forensics · suspect · culprit · alibi
Formal deductive argument structure
- premiseFoundation for logical argument
- inferenceConclusion reached through reasoning
- inductionFormal admission process
- propositionStatement expressing a judgment
conclusion · corollary · proof · validity · soundness · argumentation · logical · deductive
Grasping what's true
- epiphanySudden profound insight
- aha momentSudden flash of understanding
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
clarity · understanding · discernment · perception · grasp · comprehension · illuminate · recognize
infer
Derive by reasoning
- concludeEnd or infer
- surmiseGuess from incomplete information
- extrapolateExtend known data outward
determine · discern · gather · glean · figure out · work out · piece together · puzzle out · reason out · derive
examine
Study with attention
- scrutinizeInspect with close attention
- evaluateDetermine value or quality
- assessJudge worth or quality
investigate · interpret · dissect · parse · deconstruct · study · analyze · diagnose · break down · sift through
clues
Hints toward answers
Sherlock · Holmes · Poirot · whodunit · investigation · forensics · suspect · culprit · alibi · motive
syllogism
Formal deductive argument structure
- premiseFoundation for logical argument
- inferenceConclusion reached through reasoning
- inductionFormal admission process
proposition · conclusion · corollary · proof · validity · soundness · argumentation · logical · deductive · inductive
realization
Grasping what's true
- epiphanySudden profound insight
- aha momentSudden flash of understanding
- breakthroughSudden important advance
revelation · clarity · understanding · discernment · perception · grasp · comprehension · illuminate · recognize · apprehend
- thinkingthinking, reasoning, thought, ponder, contemplate
- analysisanalyze, analysis, evaluate, data analysis, examine
- investigatinginvestigate, examine, inspect, probe, search
- judgmentsjudgment call, judge, moral judgment, criticize, value judgment
- mental verbsthink, believe, know, imagine, remember
- mysteriesmystery, enigma, enigmas, puzzle, riddle
- tax deductionsAmounts reducing taxable income
- charitable deductionTax reduction for donations
- payroll deductionSum subtracted from wages
- business deductionsExpenses subtracted from revenue
- logical deductionDeriving conclusions from premises
- allowable deductionsExpenses reducing tax burden
deduction, deduct, deducing, deducted, deductions, deduced, deduces, deducible, deducer