1
as in shrewd
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
2
as in cunning
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in figuring
to determine (a value) by doing the necessary mathematical operations
the family has been calculating what a week at the beach resort would end up costing
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in estimating
to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement
I calculate that this job will take another two days to finish
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in planning
to work out the details of (something) in advance
calculated the best route to take to the coast
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in intending
to have in mind as a purpose or goal
I calculate to run a marathon from start to finish—even if it kills me
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in relying
to place reliance or trust
we know we can calculate on you following through, whatever the assignment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 calculating
Rebekah Frumkin, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2019
And experts believe that his intuitive style could throw the more calculating Caruana, who has faced time crunches already in this championship, off-balance.
—Joshua Robinson, WSJ, 27 Nov. 2018
Okla Jones, Essence, 28 Jan. 2026
Some sports commentators dive deep into the data, running simulations and calculating expected probability outcomes before making their picks.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 28 Jan. 2026
Whether the tax applies to some digital transfers is unclear, as are the mechanics for collecting, calculating, and remitting the tax.
—Carrie Brandon Elliot, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
But with rates here likely to change, both this year and over the years still to come, borrowers should spend the time calculating their potential costs against a variety of rates and terms.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
Netflix has a complex methodology for calculating views on split seasons.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 20 Jan. 2026
Here’s a way to think about calculating the right amount of spreads to hedge.
—Todd Gordon, CNBC, 20 Jan. 2026
In July, their mother was calculating how much time the entire family would have together in Park City.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 17 Jan. 2026
Maduro barred her candidacy, perhaps calculating that no substitute would accrue the same gravitas.
—Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Even Alex becomes too entangled in her students’ dealings and ends up suffering at the hands of one of the more calculating boys.
—Rebekah Frumkin, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2019
And experts believe that his intuitive style could throw the more calculating Caruana, who has faced time crunches already in this championship, off-balance.
—Joshua Robinson, WSJ, 27 Nov. 2018
Verb
New information from the show’s calculating power broker Sinatra, portrayed by Julianne Nicholson, revealed otherwise, sending Xavier into unfamiliar territory above ground.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 28 Jan. 2026
Some sports commentators dive deep into the data, running simulations and calculating expected probability outcomes before making their picks.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 28 Jan. 2026
Whether the tax applies to some digital transfers is unclear, as are the mechanics for collecting, calculating, and remitting the tax.
—Carrie Brandon Elliot, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
But with rates here likely to change, both this year and over the years still to come, borrowers should spend the time calculating their potential costs against a variety of rates and terms.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
Netflix has a complex methodology for calculating views on split seasons.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 20 Jan. 2026
Here’s a way to think about calculating the right amount of spreads to hedge.
—Todd Gordon, CNBC, 20 Jan. 2026
In July, their mother was calculating how much time the entire family would have together in Park City.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 17 Jan. 2026
Maduro barred her candidacy, perhaps calculating that no substitute would accrue the same gravitas.
—Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for calculating
Adjective
-
But with a few shrewd changes from page to screen, Benedict asking Sophie to be his mistress feels more like a last resort than a first instinct, clearing the path to a smoother happily ever after when the show returns in February.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Advertisement Maine Susan Collins might just be the shrewdest incumbent Republican on this year’s map.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
His initial rise to fame came from playing cunning and ruthless centuries-old vampire Eric Northman on True Blood.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Jan. 2026
-
They’re built up to be these impossibly deadly and evil and cunning foes, and then our much less impressive heroes manage to take them down through grit and determination or just dumb luck.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
And the Rebels, after some early struggles, are suddenly figuring some things out, evidenced by a 10-point win at Utah State on Tuesday in a game they were projected to lose by 16.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Lost amid the euphoria of the first relevant Sharks season in a good long while is the fact that this team is still a collection of kids figuring things out on the fly.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Analysts predict that cost reductions will accelerate over the next three years as supply chains expand, with Morgan Stanley estimating that once capacity reaches about 100 GWh, sodium batteries could be more than 30% cheaper than LFP cells.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Jan. 2026
-
And premiere projections are trending up, with BoxOfficePro estimating a $1-2 million open last week, but revising to $2-5 million this week.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Volunteering For One High-Visibility Initiative When the year begins, many teams are planning major initiatives, strategic meetings or kickoffs for important projects.—
Sho Dewan,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Several New Jersey school districts are planning to welcome students back on Tuesday, but some places, like Jersey City, have been forced to cancel classes for a second day due to the clean-up after the snowstorm proving to be a daunting task.—
Andrew Ramos,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce owns the intellectual property rights to the image of the Hollywood® Sign, so that anyone intending to use and/or access the Hollywood® Sign for commercial purposes must obtain a license or permission from the Hollywood Chamber to do so.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
FOXNews.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Deer-ly beloved On a now typical frosty evening late last week, Beth Brecher was about to walk out of her back door onto Central Park intending to feed the birds.—
Jerry Shnay,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
There are many potential downsides to relying too much on AI personas; see my cautions at the link here.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Mensah grew up in extreme poverty, living with his mother Naomi and three siblings in low-income housing and relying on food stamps and church food banks.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Joining another lab at her institution might be an option, but that would mean abandoning her main research interests, and other groups have also been cagey about funding.—
Jonathan Wosen,
STAT,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Exceptions finally arrived with the emergence of Max Cervantes as slick and cagey defense lawyer Billy Flynn.—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Calculating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calculating. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
