1
as in shrewd
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Dissimilar Words
2
as in cunning
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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
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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
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3
as in planning
to work out the details of (something) in advance
calculated the best route to take to the coast
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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
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5
as in relying
to place reliance or trust
we know we can calculate on you following through, whatever the assignment
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Example Sentences
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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
Aly J Yale, CBS News, 6 May 2026
Cold, calculating and highly intelligent, Dedra saw the rebellion coming when none of her other peers did.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 3 May 2026
Mandy Patinkin plays Anthony Accardo, a powerful and calculating head of the Chicago Outfit, considered one of the most powerful crime bosses in America at the time.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 1 May 2026
That's the part worth hammering, not that Nike is greedy or calculating.
—Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
Multi-state employers should carefully review state overtime rules to avoid errors when calculating and reporting qualified overtime premium amounts at year-end.
—Fennemore, Oc Register, 30 Apr. 2026
In the tradition of the intuitionist mathematician calculating larger or more precise numbers with time and effort, Gisin allows for more and more information to be created.
—Quanta Magazine, 29 Apr. 2026
But there are other factors that make calculating the distance of future Artemis missions a little complicated.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 25 Apr. 2026
Taylor Polidore Williams recurs as Brooke Cropper, Eric’s second wife who is just as calculating as her husband and is methodically preparing for a heated divorce.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 24 Apr. 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
When calculating with these numbers, avoiding PMI could save you anywhere from $120 to $280 per month on a $400,000 loan.
—Aly J Yale, CBS News, 6 May 2026
Cold, calculating and highly intelligent, Dedra saw the rebellion coming when none of her other peers did.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 3 May 2026
Mandy Patinkin plays Anthony Accardo, a powerful and calculating head of the Chicago Outfit, considered one of the most powerful crime bosses in America at the time.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 1 May 2026
That's the part worth hammering, not that Nike is greedy or calculating.
—Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
Multi-state employers should carefully review state overtime rules to avoid errors when calculating and reporting qualified overtime premium amounts at year-end.
—Fennemore, Oc Register, 30 Apr. 2026
In the tradition of the intuitionist mathematician calculating larger or more precise numbers with time and effort, Gisin allows for more and more information to be created.
—Quanta Magazine, 29 Apr. 2026
But there are other factors that make calculating the distance of future Artemis missions a little complicated.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 25 Apr. 2026
Taylor Polidore Williams recurs as Brooke Cropper, Eric’s second wife who is just as calculating as her husband and is methodically preparing for a heated divorce.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for calculating
Adjective
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But another Cox trade — sending pitcher Doyle Alexander to Detroit for a minor-leaguer named John Smoltz in 1987 — is considered one of the shrewdest in baseball history.—
Mark Bradley for the AJC,
AJC.com,
9 May 2026
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Twice, its shrewd business practices caught federal regulators’ attention.—
Kenny Jacoby,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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There’s arguably no one better placed to collaborate with VFX artists on a motion-capture performance than Serkis, who’s delivered innocence, cunning, cruelty, longing, and kindness in roles that run from Golum to Caesar to King Kong himself.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
4 May 2026
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As Michael moves into solo stardom and makes cunning business moves, the film captures how his seemingly naive idealism was also a form of ambition.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Hannah Neeleman and her husband, Daniel, look like average beaming newlyweds, young parents fake-posing with margaritas and figuring things out.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
11 May 2026
-
The defensive effort and quality has been extraordinary, but that’s never before stopped Brunson from figuring it out over the course of a playoff series.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The park is home to around 1,000 black bears and grizzlies, with park officials estimating that about 300 grizzly bears were inhabiting the area in 2023.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
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The scientists were inspired by Bayesian experimental design, in which researchers interpret decision-making by estimating the likelihoods of events given prior assumptions.—
Peter Hall,
Scientific American,
8 May 2026
Verb
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French authorities arrested a 27-year-old Tunisian man last Thursday for allegedly planning a terrorist attack at the Louvre in Paris.—
Maximilíano Durón,
ARTnews.com,
12 May 2026
-
Several news outlets reported that Makary resigned on Tuesday, which followed days of reporting that the White House was planning to fire him.—
Annika Kim Constantino,Angelica Peebles,
CNBC,
12 May 2026
Verb
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Investigators say Wilson entered through an open garage door intending to steal, but instead encountered Abghari inside.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
-
Under the system, vessels intending to pass through the strait will receive guidance from an official email address outlining the rules for transit.—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Footer devotes several chapters to his prolific London theatrical work, relying mainly on the record left by reviewers.—
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
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However, both Bolt and Shepherd agree that relying solely on dandelions and other lawn weeds to feed bees for a single month isn't enough.—
Anne Readel,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 May 2026
Adjective
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Further, the non-call and subsequent call in the final 5 minutes of the free 30 minutes were monumental in a mostly cagey match.—
Braidon Nourse,
Denver Post,
30 Apr. 2026
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It’s been expected Volpe would make his season debut Friday against the Baltimore Orioles, but Boone was cagey when asked about that possibility before Wednesday’s game.—
Chris Kirschner,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Calculating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calculating. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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