1
as in assessment
the act of placing a value on the nature, character, or quality of something
that old chest isn't worth much by my reckoning, but an antiques dealer might think otherwise
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in calculation
the act or process of performing mathematical operations to find a value
you forgot about the decimal point, so your reckoning was way off
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in estimating
to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement
tried to reckon the size of the crowd at the stadium
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in thinking
chiefly dialect
to have as an opinion
I reckon you must be new to these parts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in calculating
to determine (a value) by doing the necessary mathematical operations
reckoned the runner's pace by dividing her finishing time by the race distance
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in relying
to place reliance or trust
don't reckon on being provided with low-cost housing if you take a summer job there
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in considering
to think of in a particular way
he was reckoned among the great heroes of his time
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 reckoning
Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
His actions result in a reckoning for Bade Sahab, mastermind of the terror attacks.
—Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Mar. 2026
Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
Local governments and organizations around the United States are reckoning with how to manage holidays and events that honor Chavez in the wake of the allegations against him.
—Laura Fay, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reckoning
Noun
And yet, there is an undeniable winding down to Dylan’s performances these days, not genuine decline — he’s made some of his most interesting music in the past 30 years — but more like an ongoing reckoning with legacy and age.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
His actions result in a reckoning for Bade Sahab, mastermind of the terror attacks.
—Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
Arirang — both the show and the group’s new album — sees South Korea’s current cultural ambassadors reckoning with a rich, winding past while deciding where to steer their future.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
Local governments and organizations around the United States are reckoning with how to manage holidays and events that honor Chavez in the wake of the allegations against him.
—Laura Fay, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reckoning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reckoning
Noun
-
Eco effort The hotel has applied for its LEED assessment following the adoption of a number of sustainability and energy-saving measures during the property’s renovation and current operations.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Other assessments point to a milder rise in prices.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
With a superior code and decoder in hand, Cain, Xu, and Huang developed ways to pull off the intricate manipulations of the real qubits required to perform calculations, all while keeping them protected.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Her cooperation with Washington reflects strategic calculation and the need to buy time without losing the Chavista base amid geopolitical turbulence.—
Boris Muñoz,
Time,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The federal bill introduced large cuts to the nation’s Medicaid and food assistance programs, with the Congressional Budget Office estimating 10 million people will lose their health insurance by 2034.—
Keely Doll,
Louisville Courier Journal,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Inability to stay on GLP-1s is a longstanding issue due to factors such as difficulty accessing the drugs and gastrointestinal side effects, with one 2025 study estimating that around 65% of patients with obesity stop treatment within a year.—
Annika Kim Constantino,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Focus on the craft in front of you without thinking of its hypothetical audience.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Mar. 2026
-
But as these researchers are the first to admit, the difficulty of defining intelligence is as old as the study of thinking itself—and has plagued artificial intelligence as a field from its very earliest days.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Comfort was highest when AI supported behind-the-scenes functions such as product or service recommendations, fraud detection, tracking spending, and calculating credit scores.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
1 Apr. 2026
-
For families earning below that level, stretching into homeownership may mean tighter budgets elsewhere — a trade-off many households make, but one worth calculating carefully before signing on a mortgage.—
System Process,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Critics had pointed to it as an example of the apparent risks of relying on Chinese financing to build out infrastructure projects, though the extent of this being an issue is hotly debated among experts.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Instead of relying on a tired dobby border to maintain the towels’ shape, Frette instead opted for a tonal band of piping that goes all the way around the rounded bath staples.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
No mean feat, considering the brand’s first 24 hotels are set in remote, leafy locations that feel worlds away from real life.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Here’s why, plus a look at other states considering the move.—
Kristin Scharkey,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Or the planner may work on an ongoing hourly fee, with an estimate of total costs.—
Terry Savage,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Government estimates show that the country has to buy between 20% and 30% of its diesel every month, most of it coming from Russia.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reckoning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reckoning. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
