calculated

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkælkjʊleɪtɪd/, /ˈkælkjəleɪtɪd/
• Hyphenation: cal‧cu‧lat‧ed

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Verb

calculated

1. simple past and past participle of calculate

Adjective

calculated (comparative more calculated, superlative most calculated)

1. Arrived at or determined by mathematical calculation; ascertained mathematically.

   The calculated total appeared to be wrong.

2. Carefully thought out or planned.

   We made a calculated decision not to visit them on the first day, in case we seemed too eager.

   A calculated campaign of disinformations

   Tobacco companies develop carefully calculated media campaigns.

   • 1987, Robert Sanders, Cognitive Foundations of Calculated Speech, page 135:

     Zivin's (1982) findings bear this out, that as actors grow to adulthood they become increasingly calculated and less spontaneous about displaying nonverbals, and their displays correspondingly tend to be understood as more calculated and less spontaneous.

   • 2017, Jerry Clark, Ed Palattella, Mania and Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, page 5:

     Her myriad “crimes reflected a stunning degree of calculated cruelty,” the judge wrote, and he called her “a coldly calculated criminal recidivist and serial killer who denied culpability, and possessed a high potential for future violence."

3. (of a person) Calculating; unemotional and analytical.
   • 1987, Robert Sanders, Cognitive Foundations of Calculated Speech, page 135:

     Zivin's (1982) findings bear this out, that as actors grow to adulthood they become increasingly calculated and less spontaneous about displaying nonverbals, and their displays correspondingly tend to be understood as more calculated and less spontaneous.

   • 2017, Alexander T, Cruise Ships, Behind the Iron Wall:

     Being very calculated, he knew very well the arrival and departure hours, and respected them.

   • 2017, Jerry Clark, Ed Palattella, Mania and Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, page 5:

     Her myriad “crimes reflected a stunning degree of calculated cruelty,” the judge wrote, and he called her “a coldly calculated criminal recidivist and serial killer who denied culpability, and possessed a high potential for future violence."

Derived terms

• calculated mistake
• calculated risk

 

Translations

Carefully thought out or planned

• Italian: studiato a tavolino, intenzionale (it)
• Swedish: beräknad (sv)