calculating 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of calculatingnext
1
as in shrewd

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2
as in cunning

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calculating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of calculate
1
as in figuring
to determine (a value) by doing the necessary mathematical operations the family has been calculating what a week at the beach resort would end up costing

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2
as in estimating
to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement I calculate that this job will take another two days to finish

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3
as in planning
to work out the details of (something) in advance calculated the best route to take to the coast

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4
as in intending
to have in mind as a purpose or goal I calculate to run a marathon from start to finish—even if it kills me

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5
as in relying
to place reliance or trust we know we can calculate on you following through, whatever the assignment

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of calculating
Adjective
Even Alex becomes too entangled in her students’ dealings and ends up suffering at the hands of one of the more calculating boys. — Rebekah Frumkin, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2019 And experts believe that his intuitive style could throw the more calculating Caruana, who has faced time crunches already in this championship, off-balance. — Joshua Robinson, WSJ, 27 Nov. 2018
Verb
Due to its variable rate, calculating long-term interest-earning projections with a high-yield savings account is difficult to do with precision. — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026 Include all of your debt payments, such as student loans, auto loans, credit card payments and personal loans, when calculating affordability. — Deane Biermeier, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026 Waterford’s zoning board rejected that plan, with some commissioners calculating it could have opened the door to as many as 1,500 apartments. — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 3 Aug. 2026 The judge will sort that out at an evidentiary hearing in September before calculating the final interest award. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 30 July 2026 Sure, yeah, like a calculating murderess would just check herself into a public shelter with her real ID. — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 28 July 2026 Most owners pick one of those paths by instinct, without ever calculating which one their operation, their cash position and their own mind can actually sustain. — Nilton Bernini, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 And without oversight, some health insurance plans have been calculating copayments inconsistently and without transparency. — Camille A. Clare, STAT, 23 July 2026 In Nolan and Hathaway’s interpretation, Penelope is a more calculating power player, keeping at bay the wolfish suitors who show up hoping to take Odysseus’ place and working the angles to preserve her son’s chance of assuming the throne. — Brent Lang, Variety, 21 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for calculating
  1. shrewd
  2. cunning
  3. figuring
  4. estimating
  5. planning
  6. intending
  7. relying
  8. cagey
Adjective
  • There’s pathos, and shrewd irony, underpinning his performance.
    — Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Through the process, the girls not only become shrewd salespeople but gain confidence and sometimes even stand up to better the rights of their troops.
    — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of shrewd
Adjective
  • With the correct number of dots, no arrangement, however cunning, can dodge these shapes forever.
    — Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The simplest way to protect them from being ripped off by a cunning adversary is to get the customer in a queue and serve them your special magic on your terms.
    — Clem Chambers, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of cunning
Verb
  • So there was this element of newness and freshness to figuring it out.
    — William Earl, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
  • So, yeah, I have been involved, of course, in figuring that out.
    — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of figuring
Verb
  • Investor Michael Burry went further in November 2025, estimating that big cloud firms were understating AI depreciation by about $176 billion from 2026 through 2028.
    — Robert J. Szczerba, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Much existing research has had to rely on estimating which tasks could potentially be accomplished by AI, or indirect surveys rather than actual spending or usage records.
    — Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of estimating
Verb
  • After originally planning to stay on anyway, Alice has decided to seek other opportunities and would like a letter of recommendation after sticking around for Ted’s transition period.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026
  • When my wife and I were planning a quick summer getaway with our two teenage daughters, heading to the desert was an easy choice.
    — Mike Avila, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of planning
Verb
  • Many accused Szabo of taking payment from them without intending to deliver the home shells.
    — Amber Gaudet, Charlotte Observer, 6 Aug. 2026
  • By comparison, only 85% of Republicans intend to vote for Paxton today, with 5% intending to vote for Talarico, 4% for Brown and 6% still undecided.
    — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of intending
Verb
  • Parents are naming guardians for their children in case they are detained or deported, while others have stopped working, shopping or even leaving home, relying instead on neighbors and churches.
    — Maria Santana, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Pallister’s process, not relying on hope as a strategy, is working.
    — Peter Baugh, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of relying
Adjective
  • The energy for the index’s final thrust out of the trading range was provided by the negative, confused market response to Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh’s intentionally cagey July press conference.
    — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Carr has been cagey on the potential outcome of the license renewal proceeding.
    — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 30 July 2026
Definition of cagey

Browse Nearby Words

calculates
calculating
calculatingly
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Cite this Entry

“Calculating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calculating. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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