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.
Miller said Bianco’s claims were part of a calculated media campaign that included text messages, media interviews and news conferences.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
QCDs during those pre-RMD years are quietly one of the best moves available, because every dollar you move out of your account shrinks the balance your future RMDs are calculated on.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026
An investment Substack, Maverick Equity Research, calculated that most of the Berkshire purchases in the second quarter were done at 1.4 times book value.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026
Sentencing Murrell in June Lord Young said he had carried out a "calculated crime of dishonesty" but told the court he had been unable to identify a clear motive.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
Chess Federation rating calculated after the event was astronomically high—2375—confirming his status as a master and ranking him number twenty-five in the nation.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
Definitions 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.
