as in assumes
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 speculates
The purpose of manganese in the region below the aculeus, the team speculates, is probably to improve the flexibility and absorption of vibrations.
—
Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 1 May 2026
As for what’s next, Puck speculates that another season 1 writer will be elevated to showrunner if the show is renewed.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Apr. 2026
Portnoy also speculates that the backlash for the Unwell Winter Games and Sofia Franklyn’s upcoming memoir is adding fuel to the Cooper fire.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2026
Larson speculates that sports betting has become so popular.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
If, Algeo speculates, the knife is still in the custody of the Philadelphia Police Department, it could be tested with modern-day forensic technology.
—Annalise Peterson, NBC news, 21 Mar. 2026
The real estate platform speculates that January’s weaker figures were likely due to the severe winter weather, and the company is predicting an upswing as temperatures rise.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 12 Mar. 2026
Perhaps, Mero speculates, someone will change the lock combination, knocking her out of her own creation.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
In Evanston, a Northwestern University professor speculates that time could be on Iran’s side.
—Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 1 May 2026
As for what’s next, Puck speculates that another season 1 writer will be elevated to showrunner if the show is renewed.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Apr. 2026
Portnoy also speculates that the backlash for the Unwell Winter Games and Sofia Franklyn’s upcoming memoir is adding fuel to the Cooper fire.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2026
Larson speculates that sports betting has become so popular.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
If, Algeo speculates, the knife is still in the custody of the Philadelphia Police Department, it could be tested with modern-day forensic technology.
—Annalise Peterson, NBC news, 21 Mar. 2026
The real estate platform speculates that January’s weaker figures were likely due to the severe winter weather, and the company is predicting an upswing as temperatures rise.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 12 Mar. 2026
Perhaps, Mero speculates, someone will change the lock combination, knocking her out of her own creation.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
In Evanston, a Northwestern University professor speculates that time could be on Iran’s side.
—Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speculates
Verb
-
But that scenario assumes the streamers actually want the same packages the networks currently hold.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
-
Leadership sees growing demand from business intelligence to AI workloads and assumes the team cannot keep up.—
Prashanthi Kolluru,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Seitz guesses this is what drew Audree in.—
Meena Duerson,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Anyone who guesses the date the snow pile will be fully melted can win a $20 Freedom card, good for a few train rides.—
Joe Brandt,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Farrell supposes that no high school baseball team in the nation has traveled as much as Orange Lutheran has.—
Steve Fryer,
Oc Register,
2 May 2026
-
Leo’s fine, one supposes, as evil plantation owner Calvin Candie, but the role is not a natural fit for him.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
As heavily shorted stocks rise, Cramer thinks investors betting against them may be forced to buy shares back — a dynamic known as a short squeeze that can accelerate gains even without a major change in fundamentals.—
Alexa LoMonaco,
CNBC,
19 May 2026
-
Everyone thinks fat stores are just these passive blobs of tissue that hang off your body.—
Eileen Finan,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
The law presumes certain cancers are job-related and should be covered by workers' compensation.—
Ginger Allen,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
-
Planning presumes a set of ideal conditions for childbearing — conditions most accessible to white, economically secure Americans — while stigmatizing and discouraging the reproduction of others.—
Sonya Borrero,
STAT,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
There’s probably a smart, chilling film to be made about the terrors of smothering and relentless adoration — one imagines what Rod Serling would have done with something like this — but this isn’t really that film.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
-
Near the end of the piece, Amodei imagines a scenario in which AI has rendered the current economic system irrelevant.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Upon entering the house, Donnie surmises there is an orgy-type party going on.—
Demetrius Patterson,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Cohen surmises that the home was the first on the block.—
Culture Critic,
San Francisco Chronicle,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The group also suspects consumers will ultimately pay the price for EA’s additional debt, as the gaming giant could continue to double down on in-game purchases — a pain point for some gamers — to help bolster company finances.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
-
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is demanding the release of four Iranians detained by Kuwait, which suspects them of trying to infiltrate the Persian Gulf nation.—
Hira Humayun,
CNN Money,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Speculates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speculates. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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