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
Another doctor speculated that the seven cases might have other explanations.
—
Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 9 Jan. 2026
Fans speculated the song is pointed at LaPaglia, from whom Bryan announced his split in October 2024.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
Fans speculated that Tisdale was writing about a circle of celebrity moms.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Jan. 2026
The Gaels are often speculated as a Pac-12 expansion candidate.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026
Multiple people close to the situation had stated or speculated that an official request had been sent, and the president himself had said that Combs had asked for clemency, but Thursday’s report was the first official confirmation of the letter’s existence.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 8 Jan. 2026
Plenty of surgeons and random civilians on social media have speculated that Cooper might have received an upper blepharoplasty, a lower face and neck lift, hair transplants, and laser treatments, too.
—Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 8 Jan. 2026
For weeks leading up to Middleton’s 2011 wedding to Prince William and Meghan Markle’s 2018 wedding to Prince Harry, royal watchers speculated if either bride would wear their late mother-in-law’s bridal tiara.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 8 Jan. 2026
Wall Street analysts have speculated that Paramount will eventually surpass the $30 threshold to win support for its proposal to acquire all of WBD, including CNN.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 9 Jan. 2026
Fans speculated the song is pointed at LaPaglia, from whom Bryan announced his split in October 2024.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
Fans speculated that Tisdale was writing about a circle of celebrity moms.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Jan. 2026
The Gaels are often speculated as a Pac-12 expansion candidate.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026
Multiple people close to the situation had stated or speculated that an official request had been sent, and the president himself had said that Combs had asked for clemency, but Thursday’s report was the first official confirmation of the letter’s existence.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 8 Jan. 2026
Plenty of surgeons and random civilians on social media have speculated that Cooper might have received an upper blepharoplasty, a lower face and neck lift, hair transplants, and laser treatments, too.
—Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 8 Jan. 2026
For weeks leading up to Middleton’s 2011 wedding to Prince William and Meghan Markle’s 2018 wedding to Prince Harry, royal watchers speculated if either bride would wear their late mother-in-law’s bridal tiara.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 8 Jan. 2026
Wall Street analysts have speculated that Paramount will eventually surpass the $30 threshold to win support for its proposal to acquire all of WBD, including CNN.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speculated
Verb
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Considering her answer, Shepard guessed that Delta would have her first child between 35 and 45 years old.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Jan. 2026
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Panelist Ken Jeong guessed it right with Ortiz.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In the 12 and a half years since Sir Alex Ferguson retired and the two since Sir Jim Ratcliffe assumed control of the club’s football operations, United have evidently not become a better football club.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2026
-
That same year, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was created and assumed control of the program.—
Matthew S Williams,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The fourth largest of Jupiter’s 95 moons, Europa is an icy celestial body that scientists have long suspected could harbor the conditions necessary to support life beneath its surface.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
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Officials did not release details regarding Asendorf’s cause of death, but previously stated that foul play was suspected.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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So what are Oklahoma residents supposed to do if a mystery package arrives?—
Isa Almeida,
Oklahoman,
9 Jan. 2026
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Cameron Winter’s lyrics have an air of inscrutable mysticism, but there is little doubt he’s supposed to be the one singing them.—
Armin Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Whatever his contemporaries thought of Melville’s prose, at least his coworkers respected his dedication and honesty, the later a rare commodity in government work during the late nineteenth-century.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Isabel initially thought the sounds shaking her surroundings were thunder.—
Brian Bennett,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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If not for injuries over the last couple of seasons, executives from different clubs surmised, Tucker landing north of $400 million would not be a question.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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Investigators surmised the thieves were familiar with the envelopes the bank used to store large amounts of customers' cash.—
Logan Smith,
CBS News,
28 Dec. 2025
Verb
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All these are fears that most would’ve presumed, but now exhibitors are finally going public with their fears.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
7 Jan. 2026
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Indeed, the world would be a lot more pleasant if people presumed goodwill in others.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
29 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Speculated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speculated. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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