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
Damon Wise, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025
In that case, the administration has said calculating partial payments is a logistical nightmare that could take time to arrange in the middle of a shutdown.
—Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 3 Nov. 2025
Here's how flight times work, and why travelers don't need to worry about calculating time changes.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025
Patrick Stewart, of all people, is an all-time villain as the skinheads' calculating leader, issuing merciless orders in the same reasonable cadence we've been conditioned to trust implicitly.
—Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
His process involves mapping the sun’s path, calculating angles, sketching outlines, and planning how the light will travel across the surface.
—D.w. Pine, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
But the actor does make for a compelling contrast to McGregor’s smooth, calculating operator.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
Thompson is perfectly paired with Wilson, an actor who can go from disheveled wallflower to calculating plotter to deer-in-the-headlights comic fighter with a widening of the eye or twisting of the lips.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2025
But calculating how organisms scale has practical value as well.
—Quanta Magazine, 27 Oct. 2025
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
Dek and Thia become an unlikely team, as Thia tracks down her lower body and the cold, calculating Tessa, and, in doing so, uncovers a sinister plot to capture and study extra-terrestrial wildlife, a trope instantly familiar from the Alien universe.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025
In that case, the administration has said calculating partial payments is a logistical nightmare that could take time to arrange in the middle of a shutdown.
—Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 3 Nov. 2025
Here's how flight times work, and why travelers don't need to worry about calculating time changes.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025
Patrick Stewart, of all people, is an all-time villain as the skinheads' calculating leader, issuing merciless orders in the same reasonable cadence we've been conditioned to trust implicitly.
—Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
His process involves mapping the sun’s path, calculating angles, sketching outlines, and planning how the light will travel across the surface.
—D.w. Pine, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
But the actor does make for a compelling contrast to McGregor’s smooth, calculating operator.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
Thompson is perfectly paired with Wilson, an actor who can go from disheveled wallflower to calculating plotter to deer-in-the-headlights comic fighter with a widening of the eye or twisting of the lips.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2025
But calculating how organisms scale has practical value as well.
—Quanta Magazine, 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for calculating
Adjective
-
Well, in a shrewd bit of scheduling, just as its fifth series concludes, Apple TV is premiering yet another Mick Herron adaptation centered around the bumbling inner workings of British government, starring an Oscar-winning national treasure to boot.—
Jon O'Brien,
IndieWire,
30 Oct. 2025
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The soap opera veteran, who has spent more than five decades playing farm girl–turned–shrewd businesswoman Maggie Horton, recently revealed her cancer battle during a conversation with TV Insider.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Fueled by vengeance and cunning ambition, Ashur rises from betrayal and bloodshed to seize power, gouging out a place for the House of Ashur in a new arena full of violence, desire, and twisted loyalty.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
30 Oct. 2025
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The elaborate scheme, masterminded by members of four Mafia families in collusion with celebrity athletes, ensnared unsuspecting victims, bleeding them of over $7 million through cunning deception, prosecutors said in the indictment.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Though the Raptors must develop players behind and in support of their stars, this version of the team doesn’t work without those stars figuring this out.—
Eric Koreen,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Two returnees figuring prominently in the rotation are juniors Aidan Burke (a 6-3 guard) and Cade Pendleton (a 6-10 forward).—
Bill Center,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The next few years led to a major bounce in Halloween’s popularity, with Ben Cooper estimating that overall costume sales tripled.—
Mark Dent,
HubSpot,
24 Oct. 2025
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Since then, the list of automakers offering CarPlay has only grown, with Apple estimating more than 800 vehicles are compatible.—
Liam Rappleye,
USA Today,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The next year, eleven journalists went on to form the White House Correspondents’ Association in response to rumors that the Congressional Standing Committee of Correspondents was planning on selecting which reporters were invited to presidential news conferences.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
7 Nov. 2025
-
They had been alerted that Running Fence was planning to enter the ocean despite having no permit.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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After the death of his addict father, Ethan heads back to see if there’s any money to be made from selling his home, intending to stay, only briefly, with his aunt Sarah, Metcalf’s character, a Brunhilde of the high prairie.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
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Combs’ lawyers filed a two-page court document on Monday, October 20 intending to appeal his conviction.—
Danielle Bacher,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Instead of relying on harmful chemical sprays, IPM emphasizes prevention, monitoring, and issue intervention.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
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Metro could also face some tricky legal ramifications from relying on its savings.—
Austin Corona,
AZCentral.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The cagey nature of the game is reflected in the match dashboard below.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
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With one year left on his deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, James has been cagey — arguably coy — over his future plans.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Calculating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calculating. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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