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adj

calculating

adj
1
Coldly scheming and focused on personal advantage.
"He had a reputation as a calculating businessman who never made a move without an angle."

How to Use Calculating

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDescribes someone who plans things out shrewdly and selfishly, often with a negative undertone.

When to use it

Usually carries a slightly critical tone, suggesting coldness or manipulation.

Common pairings
cold and calculating a calculating mind

Word Forms

more calculating comparative, most calculating superlative

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He had a reputation as a _____ businessman who never made a move without an angle.

Rhymes for calculating

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial