as in assumes
to form an opinion from little or no evidence
I speculate that someone has been using this cabin as a trysting place
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Recent Examples of speculates
Larson speculates that sports betting has become so popular.
—
Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
If, Algeo speculates, the knife is still in the custody of the Philadelphia Police Department, it could be tested with modern-day forensic technology.
—Annalise Peterson, NBC news, 21 Mar. 2026
The real estate platform speculates that January’s weaker figures were likely due to the severe winter weather, and the company is predicting an upswing as temperatures rise.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 12 Mar. 2026
Perhaps, Mero speculates, someone will change the lock combination, knocking her out of her own creation.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
In Evanston, a Northwestern University professor speculates that time could be on Iran’s side.
—Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
Another camp speculates that these forebears met human nomads on the trail of big game and started traveling with them, eventually arriving in China via Mongolia through their supporting role as war dogs.
—Andrew Norman Wilson, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Mike speculates that their last look at Eleven was really Kali’s holographic illusion, which would explain why Eleven’s body seemed to vanish as the Upside Down exploded.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 4 Jan. 2026
Lawson speculates that things may look different in the classroom 25 years from now with emerging technology, but that doesn’t need to be a bad thing.
—Nish Kohli, The Providence Journal, 3 Jan. 2026
Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
If, Algeo speculates, the knife is still in the custody of the Philadelphia Police Department, it could be tested with modern-day forensic technology.
—Annalise Peterson, NBC news, 21 Mar. 2026
The real estate platform speculates that January’s weaker figures were likely due to the severe winter weather, and the company is predicting an upswing as temperatures rise.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 12 Mar. 2026
Perhaps, Mero speculates, someone will change the lock combination, knocking her out of her own creation.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
In Evanston, a Northwestern University professor speculates that time could be on Iran’s side.
—Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
Another camp speculates that these forebears met human nomads on the trail of big game and started traveling with them, eventually arriving in China via Mongolia through their supporting role as war dogs.
—Andrew Norman Wilson, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Mike speculates that their last look at Eleven was really Kali’s holographic illusion, which would explain why Eleven’s body seemed to vanish as the Upside Down exploded.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 4 Jan. 2026
Lawson speculates that things may look different in the classroom 25 years from now with emerging technology, but that doesn’t need to be a bad thing.
—Nish Kohli, The Providence Journal, 3 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speculates
Verb
-
Philippe Venet assumes de Givenchy’s position.—
Laird Borrelli-Persson,
Vogue,
28 Mar. 2026
-
This math also assumes a 20% down payment.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Anyone who guesses the date the snow pile will be fully melted can win a $20 Freedom card, good for a few train rides.—
Joe Brandt,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
-
There will be times when Bader guesses right and takes a good pass and hits a lineout.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Leo’s fine, one supposes, as evil plantation owner Calvin Candie, but the role is not a natural fit for him.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
26 Sep. 2025
-
The first theory supposes that the Big Bang produced dense spots that didn’t collapse immediately.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
No one thinks about the miles of underground pipes, and pumping stations and filtration operations between the tap and the source.—
Karl Schneider,
IndyStar,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Still, Andreessen thinks AI is a smoke screen for layoffs.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The message of terrorism speaks to anyone who believes that violence is a natural response to political differences, and who presumes that they may not be seen or heard otherwise.—
Juliette Kayyem,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The early investigation presumes that the victim had been a pedestrian.—
Patrick Damp,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The series’ first real twist is that the paranoid conspiracy Rachel imagines is in fact a bait-and-switch for what’s going on here.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Shah then enters with a verse that imagines a more just country.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Upon entering the house, Donnie surmises there is an orgy-type party going on.—
Demetrius Patterson,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Cohen surmises that the home was the first on the block.—
Culture Critic,
San Francisco Chronicle,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The death looks like suicide, but Babak suspects murder.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Tom is like if Kinnaman’s Holder, from AMC’s adaptation of the Danish drama The Killing, were actually as wicked as everybody suspects him of being, and the actor is having a blast preening and sneering.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Speculates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speculates. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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