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Deem vs. Seem: What's the Difference?

Deem and Seem Definitions

Deem

To regard as; consider
Deemed the results unsatisfactory. See Usage Note at as1.

Seem

To give the impression of being in a certain way; appear to be
The child seems healthy, but the doctor is concerned. The house seems to be in good condition.

Deem

To suppose or believe
"making little improvements which she deemed that he would value when she was gone" (Thomas Hardy).

Seem

Used to call attention to one's impression or understanding about something, especially in weakening the force of a following infinitive
I can't seem to get the story straight.

Deem

To have an opinion; think.
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Seem

To appear to be probable or evident
It seems you object to the plan. It seems like rain.

Deem

To judge, to pass judgment on; to doom, to sentence.

Seem

(copulative) To appear; to look outwardly; to be perceived as.
He seems to be ill.
Her eyes seem blue.
It must have seemed to her she was safe.
How did she seem to you?
He seems not to be at home.
It seems like rain.

Deem

To adjudge, to decree.

Seem

(obsolete) To befit; to beseem.
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Deem

To dispense (justice); to administer (law).

Seem

To appear, or to appear to be; to have a show or semblance; to present an appearance; to look; to strike one's apprehension or fancy as being; to be taken as.
Thou picture of what thou seem'st.
All seemed well pleased; all seemed, but were not all.
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death.
A prince of Italy, it seems, entertained his mistress on a great lake.
Ham. Ay, madam, it is common.Queen. If it be,Why seems it so particular with thee?Ham. Seems, madam! Nay, it is; I know not "seems."

Deem

(ditransitive) To hold in belief or estimation; to adjudge as a conclusion; to regard as being; to evaluate according to one's beliefs; to account.
She deemed his efforts insufficient.

Seem

To befit; to beseem.

Deem

(ambitransitive) To think, judge, or have or hold as an opinion; to decide or believe on consideration; to suppose.
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Seem

Give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect;
She seems to be sleeping
This appears to be a very difficult problem
This project looks fishy
They appeared like people who had not eaten or slept for a long time

Deem

An opinion, a judgment, a surmise.

Seem

Seem to be true, probable, or apparent;
It seems that he is very gifted
It appears that the weather in California is very bad

Deem

To decide; to judge; to sentence; to condemn.
Claudius . . . Was demed for to hang upon a tree.

Seem

Appear to exist;
There seems no reason to go ahead with the project now

Deem

To account; to esteem; to think; to judge; to hold in opinion; to regard.
For never can I deem him less him less than god.

Seem

Appear to one's own mind or opinion;
I seem to be misunderstood by everyone
I can't seem to learn these Chinese characters

Deem

To be of opinion; to think; to estimate; to opine; to suppose.
And deemest thou as those who pore,With aged eyes, short way before?

Deem

To pass judgment.

Deem

Opinion; judgment.

Deem

Keep in mind or convey as a conviction or view;
Take for granted
View as important
Hold these truths to be self-evident
I hold him personally responsible

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