calculated
Americanadjective
-
arrived at or determined by mathematical calculation; ascertained mathematically.
-
carefully thought out or planned.
a calculated effort.
adjective
-
undertaken after considering the likelihood of success or failure
a calculated risk
-
deliberately planned; premeditated
a calculated insult
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of calculated
Explanation
If you do something in a calculated way, you've given it quite a bit of thought beforehand, and you're very deliberate in the way you do it. Sometimes calculated can have a positive meaning, like when you plan ahead and are thoughtful about something. A good electrician takes a calculated approach to wiring a new house. On the other hand, a "calculated remark" could be one that's hurtful or manipulative and was made deliberately by the speaker to get a particular reaction or result.
Vocabulary lists containing calculated
"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from all 4 Acts
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"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from Act 1
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The Mark of Athena
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The DfE said its guidance sets out "how repayments are calculated across the different repayment plans", adding that it was "vital" that university applicants have "clear and accurate information".
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026
His jerky’s white minimalist packaging would cause shoppers to stop at store shelves and take a look, Hirsch calculated.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026
A total of 42% of Americans have never calculated how much money they’ll need in retirement, according to a Evergreen.ai, a financial-planning platform.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026
In May, respected football finance blogger Paul Quinn, known as The Esk, calculated that Tottenham's "absolute revenue loss", external would be between £197m-£235m if they did go down.
From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026
I had calculated with certainty on this step answering my end: I felt sure it would elicit an early answer.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
