Type inference has three outputs whereas checking only has two.
Source: tatoeba (1360819)
Inference
/ˈɪn.fɚ.əns/
Synonyms for "inference" (155 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (31)
a fortiori reasoninga posteriori reasoninga priori reasoningallegoryallusionanalysisarcane meaningassumptionaxiombaconian methodcolorationconclusionconjectureconnotationconsequenceconsequentcorollary
Noun(13 words)
abductionabductionsanalytic resultargumentsclinical conclusionsconcludingconclusionconclusionsconduct linguistic analysiscorollariesdata interpretationsdeducingdeducting
Adjective(1 words)
data based conclusion
Strong matches (47)
deductiondeductive reasoningderivationepagogegeneralizationguessguessingguessworkhinthypothesishypothesis and verificationillationimplicationimplied meaningimportinductioninductive reasoninginnuendo
Noun(17 words)
deductiondeductionsdeemingderived fromeducated guessempirically based conclusionsevidential claimextrapolationextrapolationsguessworkshistorical conclusionhistorical interpretationillationimplicit ideaindirect observationinferred ideainferring
Adjective(6 words)
deductive logicdiagnostic conclusionevidentiary conclusionimplied meaning inferenceinferential findinginferential reasoning
Verb(6 words)
Related words (77)
Verb(2 words)
interpret datastate a hypothesis
Noun(24 words)
interpretationlogical deductionpiecingpresumptionsreading inferencereasoningreasoning actreasoning processreasoning taskreconstructingreconstructionreconstructionsresulting fromsampling resultssource inferencespeculate about causessuggestionssurmisingsuspectingsuspicion
Show 4 more words
test resulttextual inferencethe conclusiontype of reasoning
intimationironic suggestionjudgmentmeaningmetaphorical sensenuanceoccult meaningovertoneparticularizationphilosophical inductionpostulatepostulationpostulatumpremisepresumptionpresupposalpresuppositionpropositionratiocinationreason
Show 24 more words
reckoningsequiturset of postulatessubsensesubsidiary sensesuggestionsupposalsupposingsuppositionsurmisesyllogismsyllogistic reasoningsymbolismsynthesistenorthesistingetouchundercurrentundermeaningunderstandingundertoneviewworking hypothesis
Adjective(7 words)
logical conclusionlogical consequencelogical demonstrationmedical conclusionrandom guessstatistical sciencestrong suspicion
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: a fortiori reasoning, a posteriori reasoning, a priori reasoning, abduction, abductions.
- Sentence evidence is available for inference, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, opengloss, wordnet, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "inference".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "inference"
Keep "inference" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "inference" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "inference", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "inference" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
9 entriesabstract thoughtcognitionconclusionexplanationhistorical claiminterpretationlogical thinkingreading skillreasoning
More specific
9 entriesarchaeological inferencecartographic inferencecausal inferencecharacter inferencedeductive inferenceinductive inferencemotive inferencesetting inferencetextual inference
Collocations
6 entriesdraw an inferencehistorical inferenceinference from evidencemake an inferencesupport an inferencetextual inference
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
3 entriesSample sentences
4 total sentences available.
Logic, in the Middle Ages, and down to the present day in teaching, meant no more than a scholastic collection of technical terms and rules of syllogistic inference.
Source: tatoeba (11707346)
Is this an observation or an inference?
Source: tatoeba (12285274)
A key part of McCarthy’s argument, as made in other settings, such as a Larry King evening news show and on a now-infamous Oprah episode, focuses on the fact that children receive more vaccines now than ever before, which she believes corresponds with a rise in autism rates. However, as scientists and others who reject fallacious inferences point out, correlation is not causation.
Source: wiktionary
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "inference"?
Closest matches include a fortiori reasoning, a posteriori reasoning, a priori reasoning, abduction, abductions.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "inference"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.