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
Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
The man Cameron thought was a patriot, now seemed like a calculating conman.
—Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
The more useful exercise is calculating your own monthly essential expenses (housing, utilities, food, insurance, transportation, and healthcare) and building the fund around that number.
—Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 6 Mar. 2026
In a report released yesterday afternoon, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) set about calculating the loss to the Treasury resulting from the IEEPA ruling.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
Chen drew a line between companies whose software does something deterministic, like calculating payroll, sending invoices, things where being wrong by 2% is a real problem, and companies that are essentially organizing public data and putting it behind a nice interface.
—Deirdre Bosa, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2026
Researchers studied hundreds of scientific studies and hazard assessments, calculating that about 90% of them underestimated baseline coastal water heights by an average of 1 foot (30 centimeters), according to Wednesday's study in the journal Nature.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
The plans would test whether alternative methods for calculating rebates under Medicare Part B and Part D, based on international pricing metrics, will reduce drug costs.
—Ed Silverman, STAT, 3 Mar. 2026
Many agencies confirmed figures with CNN directly, but when agencies did not respond, CNN used the most recent information available on their websites or other government websites and assumed five-day weeks when calculating the approximate number of training days.
—Blake Ellis, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 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
Worry not; for better or worse, this game of chance requires minimal calculating on your part.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
The man Cameron thought was a patriot, now seemed like a calculating conman.
—Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
The more useful exercise is calculating your own monthly essential expenses (housing, utilities, food, insurance, transportation, and healthcare) and building the fund around that number.
—Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 6 Mar. 2026
In a report released yesterday afternoon, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) set about calculating the loss to the Treasury resulting from the IEEPA ruling.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
Chen drew a line between companies whose software does something deterministic, like calculating payroll, sending invoices, things where being wrong by 2% is a real problem, and companies that are essentially organizing public data and putting it behind a nice interface.
—Deirdre Bosa, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2026
Researchers studied hundreds of scientific studies and hazard assessments, calculating that about 90% of them underestimated baseline coastal water heights by an average of 1 foot (30 centimeters), according to Wednesday's study in the journal Nature.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
The plans would test whether alternative methods for calculating rebates under Medicare Part B and Part D, based on international pricing metrics, will reduce drug costs.
—Ed Silverman, STAT, 3 Mar. 2026
Many agencies confirmed figures with CNN directly, but when agencies did not respond, CNN used the most recent information available on their websites or other government websites and assumed five-day weeks when calculating the approximate number of training days.
—Blake Ellis, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for calculating
Adjective
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For the past 35 years, Colleen Murphy has been in the front ranks of protecting our right to know, many of those years as the shrewd general of the ragtag good government army.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
7 Mar. 2026
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The dispensing of moral instruction is an often tiresome staple of child-friendly animation, but the lessons that Mabel must learn—to be less impulsive, less strident, and more willing to see the good in others—also turn out to be shrewd organizational and negotiating tactics.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In state media comedy shows, jokes about Putin are told from time to time, but they are used to bolster his image as a powerful, cunning leader, and hold up Russia as a great country.—
Neringa Klumbytė,
The Conversation,
4 Mar. 2026
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These ambitious, cunning, and often amoral Cold War operatives were usually marginal or even inconsequential figures at home.—
Alfred McCoy,
Literary Hub,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Finch senses the team figuring itself out as well.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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To be sure, Republicans wanted to face Crockett in the general, figuring their chances in Texas were better against a progressive Black woman rather than a Presbyterian white man.—
S.E. Cupp,
New York Daily News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That report said that models differ by 10% to 20% in estimating the size of that carbon sink, raising questions about the accuracy of global climate projections that rely on them.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
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The use of fossil fuels has been a point of contention, specifically, due to environmental concerns and an increase in carbon emissions, with some studies estimating that by 2030, data centers will emit 24 to 44 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.—
Neil Strebig,
Memphis Commercial Appeal,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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For many travelers, the process of planning their trips is a grueling slog through endless price comparisons and messy browser tabs.—
Sydney Goh,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
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Rockridge has long been among Oakland’s most idyllic and priciest areas, exactly the kind of neighborhood that is often resistant to the taller, more populous density housing the city is now planning for it.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Heo re-holstered his Taser, intending to apprehend Best by grabbing or tackling him, Prescott said.—
Kellie Love,
Hartford Courant,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Cobb admitted to shooting a handgun inside of the club, intending to harm one victim, according to an arrest report.—
David Ferrara,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Understanding past oil shocks is important, but relying on them too heavily can encourage the wrong conclusion — that we are either headed for a 1979-style crisis or that the economic consequences will be negligible.—
Alaa Shahine Salha,
semafor.com,
11 Mar. 2026
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Hernandez is a throwback player in many ways, relying on a mid-range game of pull-up jumpers and fadeaways.—
Dan Arritt,
Oc Register,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Unseld was cagey about the playing-time restrictions for all three players, declining to share details about any of their medical limits during his pregame news conference.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
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While department officials initially were cagey about whether pepper spray would be allowed at the new Kilpatrick, the department ultimately determined officers would not carry it.—
Jason Henry,
Daily News,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Calculating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calculating. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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