Meaning & use

calculating

adjective·Academic

Acting in a shrewd, carefully planned way, often to gain an advantage, sometimes at others' expense.

See it in a sentence

The calculating executive maneuvered her rivals out of the promotion.

He gave the room a calculating look before deciding what to say next.

A note on using this word

Carries a negative connotation implying self-interest, unlike the neutral verb 'calculate.'

Words with a similar meaning

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