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 Given a deteriorating customer service experience since the early days of the pandemic, customers had long speculated Cub Foods would abandon the Midway. Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 22 July 2025 There is not one proper way to invest and speculate in the markets. Todd Gordon, CNBC, 22 July 2025 Since the film and its music have garnered a lot of attention, many speculate that a sequel is imminent. Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025 For years, top Trumpworld figures, some of whom currently hold top administration posts, and even the president himself, speculated about Epstein’s death and his alleged blackmail operation. Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 14 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for speculate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speculate
Verb
  • The Bot gets two points this time for beating me and guessing in three.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
  • After Dugan was charged on April 25, many at the courthouse incorrectly guessed that Judge A was Milwaukee County Judge Marisabel Cabrera, a former Democratic lawmaker who narrowly won her judicial seat last year.
    Daniel Bice, jsonline.com, 30 July 2025
Verb
  • Season 1 ended on a cliffhanger, with Brown’s character flying to Atlanta to find his wife, who was previously assumed dead.
    Giana Levy, Variety, 28 July 2025
  • In Washington, it had long been assumed that Musk and Trump would turn on each other.
    Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 28 July 2025
Verb
  • There’s never supposed to be an episode about X political philosophy or X cultural philosophy for the family.
    Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 30 July 2025
  • The rivers are also supposed to represent how the commons area will bring people of different backgrounds together.
    Sofia Joseph, jsonline.com, 30 July 2025
Verb
  • More than 1,500 lead lines are also suspected in Greenwich, one of the state’s wealthiest enclaves.
    Andrew Brown, Hartford Courant, 28 July 2025
  • Paleontologists suspect terror birds spent most of their time on land, whereas caimans mostly stuck to the water.
    Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 July 2025
Verb
  • Here are other things that came out of Engelbert’s availability: Engelbert said the WNBA is thinking about expanding its future scheduling footprint as well as the number of games played in upcoming seasons.
    Ben Pickman, New York Times, 20 July 2025
  • Why do otherwise well-mannered people think open-mouth chewing is socially acceptable?
    R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Speculate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speculate. Accessed 2 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on speculate

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!