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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 Qualified mortgage interest can be deductible for homeowners who meet the requirements and itemize their deductions. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026 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 City now faces severe sanctions that could include a huge points deduction or even expulsion from the league, causing heavy reputational damage to its Abu Dhabi ownership. — ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026 What is likely is point deductions, enforced looking forward, not backward. — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 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
  • Hinson said the bill’s reductions to Medicaid spending for Iowa will be offset by the Rural Health Transformation Program, which allots $50 billion divided among all 50 states over the next five years.
    — Gabrielle M. Etzel, The Washington Examiner, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Higher borrowing costs will eventually force a reduction in credit and spending, weighing on economic activity and potentially spilling over into equity markets, Dalio said.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of reduction
Noun
  • Chryssa Ntalaka’s classroom has become an object lesson in subtraction.
    — LEFTERIS PITARAKIS, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
  • For the Ducks to match that, their summer additions will have to add up to more than the subtractions.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of subtraction
Noun
  • His new project, Flop, aims to create a spot market for computing power, where participants are rewarded with Flop tokens for providing GPUs and performing AI inference.
    — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Data must move quickly enough to close the loop between sensing, inference and action, with immediate inference at the edge and model updates, simulation and fleet-wide learning in centralized systems.
    — Richard Clough, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of inference
Noun
  • Medicare patients should not pay coinsurance as though the discount did not exist.
    — Casey B. Mulligan, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Stewart, 85, said on MasterClass’s Other People’s Business podcast that her licensing partnership with the discount chain once brought in as much as $65 million a year in royalties.
    — Fernanda Tronco, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of discount
Noun
  • That family history does bring with it a high level of determination to continue despite the losses and the constant threats of more attacks.
    — Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The scale of the crackdown underscored the authorities’ determination to disrupt a fast-growing protest campaign that has mobilized thousands of young people, drawn opposition support and intensified scrutiny of Modi.
    — Sheikh Saaliq, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of determination
Noun
  • But viewers had already seen Rosalía in them minutes earlier, at the conclusion of her one appearance in a comedy sketch.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The report’s main conclusion was that two years ago, the DeSantis team diverted $10 million from a Medicaid settlement for political purposes.
    — Liv Caputo, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 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 14 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on deduction

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about deduction

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