deduction

noun

di-ˈdək-shən How to pronounce deduction (audio)
Definition of deductionnext
1
as in reduction
something that is or may be subtracted contestants get a deduction from their scores for every incorrect guess

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in subtraction
the act or an instance of taking away from a total the deduction of the amount awarded to the plaintiff in order to pay the legal fees

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3
as in inference
an opinion arrived at through a process of reasoning his impressive deduction of the correct answer from only a few hints

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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 deduction Millionaires may contribute and then take deductions for charitable contributions. — Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026 There were only 4 1⁄8 inches of differences (deductions) from one antler to the other, yielding the net score of 216 5⁄8. — Richard P. Smith, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2026 Maryland workers will soon see a new deduction from their paychecks as the state prepares to launch its Family and Medical Leave Insurance program. — Cassidie Stevens, Baltimore Sun, 27 Aug. 2026 All three of those charges brought by the Premier League eventually resulted in points deductions. — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deduction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deduction
  1. reduction
  2. subtraction
  3. inference
  4. discount
  5. determination
  6. conclusion
Noun
  • Top establishments like London's Hélène Darroze at The Connaught, a three-star restaurant, offer flexible à la carte lunch options for under £100, a significant reduction from their standard tasting menus.
    — Carinne Geil Botta, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Recent school closures have helped the district to be able to make that reduction.
    — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of reduction
Noun
  • Do the subtraction, and roughly $17,350 of that car actually belongs to you.
    — Jennifer Jolly, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The bigger business gets built through subtraction, by cutting the offers, clients and activities that made sense at a smaller size but now drain the focus the next level requires.
    — Tony Pec, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of subtraction
Noun
  • Monetization through ads will help OpenAI partially cover the cost of generating inference for a query and stem the company's losses, experts said.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The researchers then use classifier guidance at inference time to steer the diffusion model toward objectives that were not included during training.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of inference
Noun
  • My expert shopping adventure led me to 10 can’t-miss Labor Day discounts going for $20 or less.
    — Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026
  • But Titaner's launch-day pricing represents the campaign's deepest discount, and that offer is about to end.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of discount
Noun
  • The conference said its rule would apply independently of the status of NCAA eligibility determinations.
    — Aaron Beard, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • In his ruling Gayles rejected the government’s argument that Vorbe could be held in mandatory detention without a bond hearing simply because of Rubio’s determination in a letter.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of determination
Noun
  • Despite the lack of outward signs in Ocean Springs, Nolan’s death has come to mean different things to different people and a lack of answers from authorities has left residents drawing their own conclusions about the circumstances of his death.
    — Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Trump faces mounting pressure to address high gas prices as the war in Iran on Friday reached a six-month milestone with no conclusion in sight.
    — Aamer Madhani, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of conclusion

Browse Nearby Words

deducting
deduction
deductions
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Cite this Entry

“Deduction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deduction. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on deduction

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about deduction

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