as in math
the act or process of performing mathematical operations to find a value
I haven't actually done the arithmetic yet, but I suspect we're losing money on the deal
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of arithmetic
That same arithmetic now applies to stylists, especially as designers increasingly pay them directly and competition for top clients intensifies.
—
Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 11 Jan. 2026
The arithmetic of loss never makes sense to me—who stays, who goes, and when.
—Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
Of course, every child should learn how to write essays and do basic arithmetic.
—Niral Shah, The Conversation, 15 Dec. 2025
These aren’t abstract trends—they’re the daily arithmetic that forecloses upward mobility for tens of millions of Americans.
—Bobby Turner, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for arithmetic
Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 11 Jan. 2026
The arithmetic of loss never makes sense to me—who stays, who goes, and when.
—Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
Of course, every child should learn how to write essays and do basic arithmetic.
—Niral Shah, The Conversation, 15 Dec. 2025
These aren’t abstract trends—they’re the daily arithmetic that forecloses upward mobility for tens of millions of Americans.
—Bobby Turner, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for arithmetic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arithmetic
Noun
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But for many renters and hopeful homebuyers, the math still isn’t mathing.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
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Pre-literacy skills and math concepts can be important for school districts and policymakers as children get ready to begin state testing in later years.—
Makiya Seminera,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Assuming a federal tax rate of about 15% to 20% for new-vehicle buyers, the first-year deduction would translate into less than $750 in tax savings, according to Cox Automotive calculations.—
Mike Winters,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
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In outpacing even most private-sector calculations, the INDEC inflation figure published Tuesday dispelled concerns — at least for now — that the government was cooking the books in any way comparable to his predecessors.—
Isabel Debre,
Fortune,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Arithmetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arithmetic. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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