as in guessed
to form an opinion from little or no evidence
I speculate that someone has been using this cabin as a trysting place
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Recent Examples of speculated
Brian Gardner, chief Washington policy strategist at Stifel, speculated that refunds won't happen retroactively at all after the issue makes its way through lower courts.
—
Jeff Cox, CNBC, 21 Feb. 2026
Defending with 10 men temporarily, Estévez speculated that his group might have been a bit disorganized, resulting in the passage of play leading to Yeboah’s goal.
—David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 21 Feb. 2026
In an interview with a Brazilian outlet, Gascón speculated that Torres’s team was trying to tear her down; Brazilian fans swiftly rallied against her.
—Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2026
More top skaters went down in the same corner in the semifinals and the announcers –- one of whom was short track speed skating Olympic medalist Katherine Reutter-Adamek — speculated there could be something wrong with the ice.
—Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 2026
Royal writer Andrew Lownie speculated that the two would now concentrate on their jobs outside of the royal family.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 19 Feb. 2026
In 2023, Springsteen launched a massive tour with the E Street Band that some speculated would be his final full-band outing.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 17 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, others speculated that the singer’s return may signal something bigger.
—Caché McClay, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
Experts speculated that dry-lot cows can’t sweat as freely as free-range cows, and that weather and feedlot conditions contributed to deadly heat exhaustion.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Jeff Cox, CNBC, 21 Feb. 2026
Defending with 10 men temporarily, Estévez speculated that his group might have been a bit disorganized, resulting in the passage of play leading to Yeboah’s goal.
—David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 21 Feb. 2026
In an interview with a Brazilian outlet, Gascón speculated that Torres’s team was trying to tear her down; Brazilian fans swiftly rallied against her.
—Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2026
More top skaters went down in the same corner in the semifinals and the announcers –- one of whom was short track speed skating Olympic medalist Katherine Reutter-Adamek — speculated there could be something wrong with the ice.
—Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 2026
Royal writer Andrew Lownie speculated that the two would now concentrate on their jobs outside of the royal family.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 19 Feb. 2026
In 2023, Springsteen launched a massive tour with the E Street Band that some speculated would be his final full-band outing.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 17 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, others speculated that the singer’s return may signal something bigger.
—Caché McClay, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
Experts speculated that dry-lot cows can’t sweat as freely as free-range cows, and that weather and feedlot conditions contributed to deadly heat exhaustion.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speculated
Verb
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Who would have guessed that hard rock could also be so gentle?—
Catherine Bray,
Variety,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Though that may sound like a lot to saddle on a single generation, these spritely young people will likely turn out to be even more extraordinary than anyone could have guessed.—
Sarah Cottrell,
Parents,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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With 650,000 fans expected to jam the city over the course of the month-long tournament, Burks assumed hundreds of other Kansas City homeowners must surely be doing the same, yes?—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
21 Feb. 2026
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But those estimates assumed current policies would remain in place.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Although both twins are suspected of conspiring to plot the double murder, the DNA on an assault rifle used in one of the later gun battles could only be from one of them.—
Chas Newkey-Burden,
TheWeek,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that an individual suspected of carrying out the attack had been detained.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Everyone always said, it’s supposed to be the best time in your life.—
Nicole Fell,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Feb. 2026
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The judge again stressed that the relevant considerations in antitrust analysis aren’t supposed social goods, but instead factors that shed light on economic competition.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Lunar rocks and soil offered novel insights into the moon’s origin and composition, and more recent analysis of previously untouched Apollo samples, as well as samples retrieved by robotic missions, revealed the surprising discovery of water trapped in rocks thought to be bone-dry.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
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Police had earlier ruled out the man as a possible suspect because he was thought to have been jailed at the time of the homicide.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The airplane was also above them, possibly in a blind spot, Dani surmised.—
Emma Hurt,
AJC.com,
19 Feb. 2026
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Nothing flusters her except dogs barking, and as the story unfolds the reason is easily surmised.—
Mary Damiano,
Miami Herald,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Eight others were found dead, and another person who is still missing is also presumed to be dead.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Her criminal case has dragged on, unresolved, and she is entitled to be presumed innocent.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Speculated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speculated. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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