speculate

verb

ˈspe-kyə-ˌlāt How to pronounce speculate (audio)
Definition of speculatenext
as in to guess
to form an opinion from little or no evidence I speculate that someone has been using this cabin as a trysting place

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word speculate different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of speculate are cogitate, deliberate, reason, reflect, and think. While all these words mean "to use one's powers of conception, judgment, or inference," speculate implies reasoning about things theoretical or problematic.

speculated on the fate of the lost explorers

When can cogitate be used instead of speculate?

In some situations, the words cogitate and speculate are roughly equivalent. However, cogitate implies deep or intent thinking.

cogitated on the mysteries of nature

When would deliberate be a good substitute for speculate?

The synonyms deliberate and speculate are sometimes interchangeable, but deliberate suggests slow or careful reasoning before forming an opinion or reaching a conclusion or decision.

the jury deliberated for five hours

Where would reason be a reasonable alternative to speculate?

Although the words reason and speculate have much in common, reason stresses consecutive logical thinking.

able to reason brilliantly in debate

When might reflect be a better fit than speculate?

While the synonyms reflect and speculate are close in meaning, reflect suggests unhurried consideration of something recalled to the mind.

reflecting on fifty years of married life

In what contexts can think take the place of speculate?

The meanings of think and speculate largely overlap; however, think is general and may apply to any mental activity, but used alone often suggests attainment of clear ideas or conclusions.

teaches students how to think

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 speculate The report speculates that the Humane Society may be denying the city paid-for leash enforcement services, especially since the city and the nonprofit agreed on a new 10-year partnership in June 2023. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 May 2025 Some scholars speculate that this practice was meant to link the path of the sun to the course of a human life, according to Artnet’s Richard Whiddington. —Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 May 2025 While there is no definitive proof, Knight is often speculated to have been involved with the murder of Notorious B.I.G. in 1997. —Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 20 May 2025 Adams on Tuesday speculated that the East River’s harsh tides could have played a factor in the crash. —Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 20 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for speculate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speculate
  1. guess
  2. assume
  3. suppose
  4. suspect
  5. think
Verb
  • And leadership is left guessing where the money is leaking.
    — Sally Ragab, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
  • Participants looked at composite face images created from using images of individuals with extremely high or low scores on personality inventories, and participants were asked to guess which face had more of a particular trait.
    — Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
Definition of guess
Verb
  • Many retirement planners assume a 30-year retirement.
    — Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 29 May 2025
  • O’Connell and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown agreed this spring not to assume anything with McCarthy.
    — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 29 May 2025
Definition of assume
Verb
  • The aviation website One Mile at a Time reported the United jet made a sharp turn to the left instead of turning right, as it was supposed to.
    — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 30 May 2025
  • Originally supposed to fly Sierra Space Dream Chaser test flight, but payload switched to an inert mass simulator because of potential Dream Chaser delays beyond October launch date.
    — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 May 2025
Definition of suppose
Verb
  • The officer, Robert Phillips, was accused of intentionally causing the death of Jesse Fischer, whom Phillips suspected of drunken driving, in October 2021.
    — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 May 2025
  • The Netflix documentary notes that there could be more victims, as cyanide tests are rarely included in a standard autopsy toxicology screen unless there is a specific reason to suspect poisoning.
    — Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
Definition of suspect
Verb
  • Here’s a look at the cast, then and now Maggie (Missy Peregrym) and Isobel, who was initially thought dead in the explosion that killed Reynolds, both overhear Keene plotting with another Forefront mole, Special Agent Wabash.
    — Randall Colburn, EW.com, 21 May 2025
  • The vessel is thought to contain watertight safes in which Lynch kept highly encrypted hard drives.
    — Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 20 May 2025
Definition of think

Browse Nearby Words

spectrum
speculate
speculate (about)
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Speculate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speculate. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on speculate

Nglish: Translation of speculate for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

'Bring' vs. 'Take'

Is it 'used to' or 'use to'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language

10 Hella Good U.S. Regionalisms

And So It Begins: 9 Words for Beginnings

Better Ways to Say 'This Sucks'
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All