calculated

/ˈkælkjuleɪtɪd/ (bre, ipa) · [kˈælkjəlˌetɪd] /ˈkælkjuleɪtɪd/ (ame, ipa) · [kˈælkjəlˌetɪd] /ˈkal-kyə-ˌlā-təd How to pronounce calculated (audio)/ (ame, mw)

calculated — adjective

  • calculatedpositive
  • more calculatedcomparative
  • most calculatedsuperlative

1. done on purpose after careful thinking, with a clear goal in mind — for example,

1.形容詞C1
釋義

done on purpose after careful thinking, with a clear goal in mind — for example, taking a calculated risk before investing, or making a calculated move to win an argument.

例句

Maeve made a calculated move to win the chess championship.

collocation: calculated + move (deliberate strategic action)

The minister's apology was a calculated attempt to repair her public image.

collocation: calculated attempt + purpose-clause

同義詞
  • deliberate

    neutral; emphasises intention without the cool/scheming tone of 'calculated'

  • premeditated

    stronger; mainly used about crimes or serious wrongdoing

  • intentional

    neutral and everyday; lacks the planning-with-strategy nuance

反義詞
  • spontaneous

    done without planning, from a sudden feeling

  • impulsive

    done quickly without thinking about results

文法句型

calculated + noun

a calculated [risk/move/attempt]

用法筆記

Often carries a slightly negative tone when describing people's actions — suggests cold planning rather than warmth or honesty. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is about a finished or attempted action; sense 2 is about something designed to produce a result later.

常見錯誤

❌I calculated my answer carefully.
✅I planned my answer carefully.
💡'calculated' as adjective describes the action/object, not the act of working it out; use 'planned' or the verb 'calculate' instead.

2. made or chosen so that a certain result will probably follow — used when somethi

2.形容詞C1
釋義

made or chosen so that a certain result will probably follow — used when something is shaped on purpose to bring about an effect, such as words calculated to anger a rival or a price calculated to attract young buyers.

例句

Gabriela's new poster was clearly calculated to appeal to first-time parents.

be calculated + to-infinitive (predicative)

Hassan's loud reply seemed calculated to embarrass his boss in front of the team.

calculated to + verb (intended-effect pattern)

同義詞
  • designed

    everyday and neutral; more common in spoken English than 'calculated'

  • intended

    focuses on the doer's purpose; weaker on the likely-result idea

  • aimed

    usually 'aimed at + noun/-ing'; emphasises the target audience

反義詞

文法句型

be calculated to + verb

designed/aimed to + verb

用法筆記

Most common in the fixed frame 'be/seem calculated to + verb', describing the likely outcome rather than a one-off action. Distinguish from sense 1 by structure: sense 1 modifies a noun directly ('a calculated move'); sense 2 takes 'to' + infinitive ('calculated to impress'). Sounds formal; everyday speech often prefers 'designed to' or 'meant to'.

常見錯誤

❌His speech was calculated for impressing the board.
✅His speech was calculated to impress the board.
💡the pattern is 'calculated to + bare infinitive', not 'calculated for + -ing'.