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

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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 Some scientists speculate that acetaldehyde might trigger a release of the immune-signalling chemical histamine, leading to alcohol-intolerance symptoms. — Shayla Love, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026 Some have speculated that, given the specific cliffhanger ending details of both films, a new film could tie up threads from both Covenant and Romulus. — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026 The other much older lineage, the researchers speculate, could be related to Homo erectus from Eurasia. — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026 Frank Sierawski didn't set out to discover a multibillion-dollar market for speculating on when people with life insurance policies will die. — Vito Emanuel, NPR, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for speculate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speculate
  1. guess
  2. assume
  3. suppose
  4. suspect
  5. think
Verb
  • Tom Even non-football fans can probably guess who this one is about.
    — Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Instead of guessing the right prompt keywords, a user can simply instruct the model to track the camera left, soften the lighting or maintain a character's expression across different scenes.
    — Coco Mao, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of guess
Verb
  • Goldman’s model assumes SMIC will add between 30,000 and 50,000 advanced-node wafers in monthly capacity each year from 2026 through 2031.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Golden Tempo, meanwhile, assumed his position near the back of the field as his deep closing style has delivered huge glory in the past.
    — Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of assume
Verb
  • In that time, three technologies have arrived that were each supposed to make human support teams unnecessary.
    — Antony P Gregory, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • It’s supposed to be scrubbed of personally identifiable markers, but how deep will that go?
    — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of suppose
Verb
  • Federal authorities have criminally charged some traders suspected of using insider information to profit on sites, but the cases have mostly started with referrals from Kalshi and its main competitor, Polymarket.
    — Bobby Allyn, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026
  • But Khalatian said many of them, including himself, didn’t suspect the stench was coming from the landfill.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of suspect
Verb
  • The work could also help researchers study other materials where strong electron interactions are thought to play a role, including high-temperature superconductors.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
  • There have been some limited cases in which noncitizens have been criminally charged for voting or attempting to vote, including in Michigan, but it's been rare and not thought to have altered the outcome of any elections.
    — Todd Spangler, Freep.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of think

Browse Nearby Words

spectrum
speculate
speculate (about)
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Cite this Entry

“Speculate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speculate. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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