second-guesses
Rethinks past decisions
Second-guesses means to question or reconsider a decision after the fact, often with the benefit of hindsight: Don't second-guess yourself—you made the right call.
It can also mean to anticipate or predict someone else's actions or thoughts: She's good at second-guessing what the boss will want.
The term carries a hint of doubt or criticism, especially when directed at others.
Delay from uncertainty
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- reconsiderationRenewed evaluation of something
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
indecision · misgivings · reservations · skepticism · qualms · apprehension · vacillation · self-doubt
Sorrow over past actions
- retrospectionContemplating past events
- reassessmentRenewed evaluation of something
- afterthoughtIdea added belatedly
- reevaluationJudging something anew
what-ifs · rumination · reflection · review · analysis · criticism · scrutiny · post-mortem
Seeking answers through inquiry
- challengingHard to accomplish
- contradictingAsserting the opposite
- overridingOf chief importance
- interferingIntruding in others' affairs
micromanaging · undercutting · criticizing · nitpicking · doubting · overruling · countermanding · vetoing
Stating future outcomes
- outmaneuveringDefeating through superior tactics
- outsmartingDefeating through superior intelligence
- preemptingActing to prevent beforehand
- forecastingEstimating future conditions
intuiting · reading · anticipating · strategizing · calculating · deducing · inferring · surmising
hesitation
Delay from uncertainty
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- reconsiderationRenewed evaluation of something
wavering · indecision · misgivings · reservations · skepticism · qualms · apprehension · vacillation · self-doubt · wariness
regret
Sorrow over past actions
- retrospectionContemplating past events
- reassessmentRenewed evaluation of something
- afterthoughtIdea added belatedly
reevaluation · what-ifs · rumination · reflection · review · analysis · criticism · scrutiny · post-mortem · reexamination
questioning
Seeking answers through inquiry
- challengingHard to accomplish
- contradictingAsserting the opposite
- overridingOf chief importance
interfering · micromanaging · undercutting · criticizing · nitpicking · doubting · overruling · countermanding · vetoing · superseding
predicting
Stating future outcomes
- outmaneuveringDefeating through superior tactics
- outsmartingDefeating through superior intelligence
- preemptingActing to prevent beforehand
forecasting · intuiting · reading · anticipating · strategizing · calculating · deducing · inferring · surmising · projecting
second-guessescommits
Pledges to do
stands by · follows through · takes the plunge · doubles down · decides
second-guessestrusts
Believes in reliability
stands by · believes in · affirms · backs · supports
second-guessesaccepts
Consents to receive
embraces · goes with · takes at face value · leaves alone · puts to rest
guess, guessing, guessed, guesses, second-guessing, unguessable, guesser, second-guess, second-guessed