as in guessing
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 speculating
Now, fans are speculating that one of the world’s most famous power couples, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, could make a joint appearance at fashion’s biggest night.
—
Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 4 May 2026
There were times, between when the film was shot in 2021 and its period of post-production limbo, when crew members were openly speculating about it never seeing the light of day.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 2 May 2026
One fan account called @beyscatalog on X alleged that the singer's next album will be announced in connection to the Met Gala, speculating that a lead single release could be scheduled for next month and a full album released this summer.
—Caché McClay, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
People started speculating that the two rekindled their romance, after she was spotted in the stands at one of his races in May 2025.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
Prior to Trump’s statement, few if any were speculating on such a solution.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
Gamow and Stern made a joke of it, speculating that perhaps new cars were continuously being made on the building’s roof and sent down for storage in the basement.
—Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 21 Apr. 2026
The second the news dropped that Joy Division/New Order were finally entering the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, fans began speculating about what might happen the night of the induction ceremony.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2026
But Zeigler’s attorneys are only speculating in their latest request.
—Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026
Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 4 May 2026
There were times, between when the film was shot in 2021 and its period of post-production limbo, when crew members were openly speculating about it never seeing the light of day.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 2 May 2026
One fan account called @beyscatalog on X alleged that the singer's next album will be announced in connection to the Met Gala, speculating that a lead single release could be scheduled for next month and a full album released this summer.
—Caché McClay, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
People started speculating that the two rekindled their romance, after she was spotted in the stands at one of his races in May 2025.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
Prior to Trump’s statement, few if any were speculating on such a solution.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
Gamow and Stern made a joke of it, speculating that perhaps new cars were continuously being made on the building’s roof and sent down for storage in the basement.
—Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 21 Apr. 2026
The second the news dropped that Joy Division/New Order were finally entering the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, fans began speculating about what might happen the night of the induction ceremony.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2026
But Zeigler’s attorneys are only speculating in their latest request.
—Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speculating
Verb
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Leave curb-appeal gawkers guessing with a DIY trash bin enclosure with a planter top.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 May 2026
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That may have been in part to keep any adversaries (or lone wolves) guessing.—
Neil Flanagan,
The Atlantic,
2 May 2026
Verb
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One defendant is accused of assuming the identity of at least four residents in Maryland with the fraudulent intent to obtain payments valued at over $1,500 that were disbursed from the state’s Medicaid program.—
Brendan Nordstrom,
Baltimore Sun,
11 May 2026
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The diagrams of passengers pulling out floatation devices and assuming crash position were presented with a crisp, legible aesthetic similar to the look of Ikezoe’s paintings.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
11 May 2026
Verb
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Invitees were hoping and suspecting McCartney might pop in for a wave or a comment before or after the listening session.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
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Surely seventh graders are capable of understanding that people need to get along with one another, rather than living in a constant state of alarm, suspecting that others mean us harm.—
Judith Martin,
Dallas Morning News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Even supposing the pledges in the 1990s documents amounted to a crime, the legal deadline for bringing mortgage fraud charges has expired.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
8 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Shaina Montiel says her mother stills cries thinking about her harrowing experience with hantavirus at age 5, which, according to the CDC, can have a fatality rate up to 38%, depending on the type of syndrome caused by it.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
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Mathematicians spend most of their time thinking about what’s knowable.—
Ben Brubaker,
Quanta Magazine,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Speculating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speculating. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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