miscalculate
verb
mis·cal·cu·late
ˌmis-ˈkal-kyə-ˌlāt 
miscalculated; miscalculating
: to calculate wrongly : to make a miscalculation
This fall, publishers badly miscalculated the public's appetite for celebrity tell-alls.—
Patrick M. Reilly
Patrick M. Reilly… the bosses simply weren't ready when it turned out they had miscalculated badly.—Kevin Drum
Kevin DrumExamples of miscalculate in a Sentence
they miscalculated how difficult the mountainous trek would be
Recent Examples on the Web
Despite years of legal experience, judges often miscalculate a defendant’s risk of committing another crime.
—Robert Pearl, Twin Cities, 14 June 2025
Aside from underestimating the vulnerabilities of Russia’s military, analysts have suggested that Moscow also miscalculated the support Russia would receive from Ukrainians in the country’s east who have close ethnic ties to Russia.
—Ben Horne, The Conversation, 21 May 2025
One risk is that the pilots will miscalculate which way the other aircraft is moving; another is identifying the wrong aircraft.
—Kate Kelly, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025
Stunt work in film and television is such a diverse and challenging craft with serious real world sacrifices and consequences if miscalculated.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for miscalculate
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.
Robert Pearl, Twin Cities, 14 June 2025
Aside from underestimating the vulnerabilities of Russia’s military, analysts have suggested that Moscow also miscalculated the support Russia would receive from Ukrainians in the country’s east who have close ethnic ties to Russia.
—Ben Horne, The Conversation, 21 May 2025
One risk is that the pilots will miscalculate which way the other aircraft is moving; another is identifying the wrong aircraft.
—Kate Kelly, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025
Stunt work in film and television is such a diverse and challenging craft with serious real world sacrifices and consequences if miscalculated.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for miscalculate
Cite this Entry
“Miscalculate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/miscalculate. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share