1
as in shrewd
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2
as in cunning
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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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Working with the Calling All Dreamers advisors, Christine Wonderson is figuring how to break the business down into more achievable chunks, rather than trying to do everything at once.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Tanner Scott and Blake Treinen will need to step up, with Alex Vesia also figuring to factor into Roberts’ late-inning plans.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
21 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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An hour before Hitchcock's execution, Texas is planning to put James Broadnax to death for the 2008 double murder of two Christian music producers in the Dallas suburb of Garland.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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Countries across the Gulf have arrested scores of people during the war, on charges ranging from posting images of wartime damage, to planning terrorist attacks with Iran.—
Dominic Dudley,
semafor.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Prosecutors say that Allen tried to storm the dinner − where Vice President JD Vance and others from the administration were also in attendance − with multiple guns and knives, intending to kill high-ranking officials.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
3 May 2026
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From Stoll's perspective, Howard wasn't intending to kill his lover.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Skydio has warned against relying on international suppliers after the drone maker was cut off from its supply of Chinese batteries when it was blacklisted by Beijing in October, the Wall Street Journal reported.—
Itzel Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
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Kean Jr's absence comes at a time when Republican representatives are relying on a narrow majority to pass legislation before the midterm elections in November.—
Alexa Herrera,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 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 11 May. 2026.
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