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
Traditional CPUs excel at sequential computing tasks, such as calculating a massive spreadsheet or running a precise physics simulation, as these often require executing steps in strict order at blazing speeds. — New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2026 Policymakers and advocates have proposed alternatives to the CPI-W for calculating the annual COLA. — Lorie Konish, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026 With shifting alliances and deception, only the most calculating player will survive to win it all, per the logline. — Peter White, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026 Cline‘s 2023 novel, published by Penguin Random House, centers on a calculating grifter who navigates the treacherous world of summer in the Hamptons. — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026 The group compared water bills in 2025 to 2015, calculating the annual amount for a typical household using 60,000 gallons of water indoors, or about 50 gallons per person per day. — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026 People with eating disorders may exhibit compulsive behaviors around both exercise and eating, including working out for multiple hours every day and carefully calculating every aspect of their diet. — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026 Disappearance of one observer to another can occur between two surveyors in the process of calculating the dimensions of a large area of terrain. — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026 Studying these dynamics directly is difficult because calculating their real-time evolution becomes increasingly demanding for classical computers, particularly as the system develops substantial quantum entanglement. — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for calculating
  1. shrewd
  2. cunning
  3. figuring
  4. estimating
  5. planning
  6. intending
  7. relying
  8. cagey
Adjective
  • At times, Zukenee’s chameleonic range and ironic language can feel like a shrewd substitute for vulnerability.
    — Narsimha Gour Chintaluri, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Atlanta general manager Dan Padover built the Dream into a title contender through shrewd trades, a little bit of luck and patience from the team's ownership group.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of shrewd
Adjective
  • Magpies are opportunistic scavengers, incredibly cunning and deceitful and capable of calculated deception.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Last week, Alan Cumming’s cunning competition empire The Traitors unsheathed its most diabolical twist yet.
    — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of cunning
Verb
  • This is also figuring that Warners unleashes Digger on Premium VOD soon and does a decent number relative to the box office because people are curious.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 4 Oct. 2026
  • UConn has been figuring it out with 87 new players, many of whom hadn’t seen regular game reps at their prior stop.
    — Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of figuring
Verb
  • Space42 expects new services to require time to build subscriber bases, establish commercial packages, and secure adoption, with Sabbagh estimating this could take one to three years.
    — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The unrest culminated in rioting and looting over the weekend, with officials estimating that the damages could be worth hundreds of millions of euros.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of estimating
Verb
  • All three men are planning to address the court, and their attorneys will give a presentation on each brother’s behalf, according to court filings.
    — Kara Scannell, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The company is planning to launch a handful of new shows over the next few months, with a longer-term goal of having 12-16 channels led by creators who are subject matter experts.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of planning
Verb
  • Lane was intending to offer contemporary fiction of the sort published in hardback for 7s 6d at a much lower paperback price.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026
  • But Paltrow and Johnson became close friends, with Paltrow reportedly intending to maintain their bond after the breakup.
    — Sezin Devi Koehler, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of intending
Verb
  • The approach could help researchers explore how separate computing systems share insights without relying on a single central processing location.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Over the years, investors and analysts alike have accused Salesforce of relying too heavily on acquisitions to fuel growth, often at the expense of current shareholders.
    — Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of relying
Adjective
  • The second leg was a cagier affair, ending 1-1, with Dembele again on the scoresheet.
    — Tom Burrows, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • In some interviews, Davis was cagey and refused to name the shooter.
    — Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of cagey

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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 27 Oct. 2026.

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