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
Some listeners are speculating that the song was written from the perspective of Swift's former mentor, Big Machine Records CEO Scott Borchetta.
—
Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025
Almost immediately after Charlie Kirk was killed in Utah, three weeks ago, conservative figures began speculating that the shooter was either trans or had murdered Kirk because of his anti-trans rhetoric.
—Grace Byron, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
The Beyhive began speculating that a film might be announced on Oct 1.
—Caché McClay, USA Today, 2 Oct. 2025
Cardi responded in kind, speculating whether or not Minaj was abusing substances, and insinuating that Minaj’s substance use has affected her children’s health.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
With a Baywatch reboot officially in the works, fans have been speculating on whether former cast from Pamela Anderson to David Hasselhoff will return.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 2025
While the position of Miami mayor is officially nonpartisan, party affiliation could become a major sticking point in November, with some political insiders speculating that González’s stiffest competition is Higgins, a Democrat.
—Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
The Bears host a 1-1 Dallas Cowboys team on Sunday afternoon in Chicago, with some people speculating that another Bears' loss will cause Caleb Williams to get benched for at least several games.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Sep. 2025
Rather than speculating about how demographic shifts might alter their student’s odds of acceptance, families should exert their time and strategy toward ensuring that their student is a qualified and dynamic applicant.
—Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025
Almost immediately after Charlie Kirk was killed in Utah, three weeks ago, conservative figures began speculating that the shooter was either trans or had murdered Kirk because of his anti-trans rhetoric.
—Grace Byron, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
The Beyhive began speculating that a film might be announced on Oct 1.
—Caché McClay, USA Today, 2 Oct. 2025
Cardi responded in kind, speculating whether or not Minaj was abusing substances, and insinuating that Minaj’s substance use has affected her children’s health.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
With a Baywatch reboot officially in the works, fans have been speculating on whether former cast from Pamela Anderson to David Hasselhoff will return.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 2025
While the position of Miami mayor is officially nonpartisan, party affiliation could become a major sticking point in November, with some political insiders speculating that González’s stiffest competition is Higgins, a Democrat.
—Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
The Bears host a 1-1 Dallas Cowboys team on Sunday afternoon in Chicago, with some people speculating that another Bears' loss will cause Caleb Williams to get benched for at least several games.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Sep. 2025
Rather than speculating about how demographic shifts might alter their student’s odds of acceptance, families should exert their time and strategy toward ensuring that their student is a qualified and dynamic applicant.
—Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speculating
Verb
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Despite advances in technology, some people still believe myths about guessing the baby’s gender during pregnancy.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
2 Oct. 2025
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And in the absence of clear answers as to what those new rules are, there’s plenty of guessing going on.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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With all members present, Johnson can currently only afford to lose two Republican votes on any bill, assuming all Democrats are opposed.—
Sudiksha Kochi,
USA Today,
7 Oct. 2025
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Players today come into the league rightly assuming that audiences for professional women’s sports are there.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In 2019, suspecting one of their sons of vandalism, San Diego County sheriff’s deputies burst into the Najarros’ Vista home without a warrant, then punched, choked, fired a Taser gun at and threatened to shoot different members of the family before arresting them all, the family said in a lawsuit.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Sep. 2025
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Experiencing or even suspecting age discrimination can leave job seekers and employees questioning how to move forward.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Who could blame them for thinking that, if that was the case?—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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Once defined by school bus-sized behemoths, the class has evolved to include vehicles that combine plush comfort, forward-thinking tech, and top-notch performance into a single convenient package.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Speculating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speculating. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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