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
Derived 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.
For a model Boldin calculated for MarketWatch, Jerry and Elaine are currently in their 50s and are projected to have a combined $71,000 a year in Social Security benefits by the time they claim.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026
Michael Uhlarik, founder of the consulting firm Motorcycle Global, calculated that one e-moto, the Surron Light Bee, was the most popular motorcycle in the U.S. last year, selling about 16,000 units.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026
Analysts say this too is a calculated effort by Beijing to pull Pyongyang back into its orbit.
From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026
At the time, University of Utah postdoctoral researcher George Zandt analyzed the data and calculated that the earthquake originated about 90 kilometers below sea level.
From Science Daily • Jun. 3, 2026
The owl and the rats had calculated wisely, and the nearest furrow was more than two feet from her house.
From "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" by Robert C. O'Brien
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.
