calculated

adjective

cal·​cu·​lat·​ed ˈkal-kyə-ˌlā-təd How to pronounce calculated (audio)
1
: apt, likely
2
a
: worked out by mathematical calculation
b
: engaged in, undertaken, or displayed after reckoning or estimating the statistical probability of success or failure
a calculated risk
3
a
: planned or contrived to accomplish a purpose
b
: deliberate, intended
a calculated attempt to deceive voters
calculatedly adverb
calculatedness noun

Examples of calculated in a Sentence

took a calculated risk and got in on the ground floor of the new enterprise
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The calculated time to first dose of pain medication for individuals assigned ESI 2 was 65 minutes and the median time for those assigned ESI 3 was 178 minutes, with four of these patients leaving the ED without receiving pain medication after a wait of 349 minutes. Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025 The acquisition marked a calculated bet that, even as the NIL landscape evolves and consolidates within athletic departments, there’s still a place for third-party operators and agencies like Blueprint. Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 30 Sep. 2025 The plea to the agencies is a calculated one, given the hotel’s reputation as a hot spot for A-listers and other media figures, as well as a popular event space. Katie Campione, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2025 The commissioners at Fort Laramie—a calculated mix of military men and Indian rights activists—hoped to make the Lakotas accept a Great Sioux Reservation and to push the Northern Arapahos, Crows, and Northern Cheyennes onto reservations as well. Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for calculated

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of calculate

First Known Use

1723, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of calculated was in 1723

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Cite this Entry

“Calculated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calculated. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.

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