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 octopuses can safely stand still during their hour-long mating process because, Villar speculates, both male and female can be hidden in their respective rocky hideouts.
—
Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 2 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
Another camp speculates that these forebears met human nomads on the trail of big game and started traveling with them, eventually arriving in China via Mongolia through their supporting role as war dogs.
—Andrew Norman Wilson, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Mike speculates that their last look at Eleven was really Kali’s holographic illusion, which would explain why Eleven’s body seemed to vanish as the Upside Down exploded.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 4 Jan. 2026
Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 2 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
Another camp speculates that these forebears met human nomads on the trail of big game and started traveling with them, eventually arriving in China via Mongolia through their supporting role as war dogs.
—Andrew Norman Wilson, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Mike speculates that their last look at Eleven was really Kali’s holographic illusion, which would explain why Eleven’s body seemed to vanish as the Upside Down exploded.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 4 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speculates
Verb
-
Of course, that assumes there are any businesses left in California.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The older consensus assumes Washington would still try to stabilize the situation—escort shipping, surge regional forces, send warnings, hold back from hitting the mainland.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
There will be times when Bader guesses right and takes a good pass and hits a lineout.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
The first theory supposes that the Big Bang produced dense spots that didn’t collapse immediately.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
At least, Fowler, who’s covered every season since the franchise’s inception, thinks so.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Robin thinks the lopsided representation likely has something to do with genetic differences between people of different racial groups — specifically in genes for athletic or intellectual abilities.—
Megan Molteni,
STAT,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The message of terrorism speaks to anyone who believes that violence is a natural response to political differences, and who presumes that they may not be seen or heard otherwise.—
Juliette Kayyem,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The early investigation presumes that the victim had been a pedestrian.—
Patrick Damp,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Aquarius Neptune in Aquarius imagines the future.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Weed imagines the home’s spirit as a 19th-century woman in a long dress—and not a particularly happy one.—
Katie Schultz,
Architectural Digest,
2 Apr. 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
-
Sandel suspects those ties were strained by an unusually large group size, competition over food and reproduction, alpha male changes and diseases that killed adults that were key bridges between clusters.—
Jason P. Dinh,
Scientific American,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Although some may theoretically exist in unsampled tundra — in a place like Siberia, maybe — Van Nuland suspects that many of the species will prove to be endemic to this region.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Speculates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speculates. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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