SPECULATE: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for SPECULATE?

Need another word that means the same as “speculate”? Find 31 synonyms and 30 related words for “speculate” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Speculate” are: job, conjecture, hypothecate, hypothesise, hypothesize, suppose, theorise, theorize, chew over, contemplate, excogitate, meditate, mull, mull over, muse, ponder, reflect, ruminate, think over, form theories, make suppositions, postulate, guess, make guesses, surmise, gamble, take a chance, take a risk, venture, take a venture, wager

Speculate as a Verb

Definitions of "Speculate" as a verb

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “speculate” as a verb can have the following definitions:

• To believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds.
• Form a theory or conjecture about a subject without firm evidence.
• Invest at a risk.
• Invest in stocks, property, or other ventures in the hope of gain but with the risk of loss.
• Talk over conjecturally, or review in an idle or casual way and with an element of doubt or without sufficient reason to reach a conclusion.
• Reflect deeply on a subject.

Synonyms of "Speculate" as a verb (31 Words)

chew over	Chew (food); to bite and grind with the teeth.
conjecture	(in textual criticism) propose (a reading). Many conjectured that the jury could not agree.
contemplate	Look thoughtfully for a long time at. She couldn t even begin to contemplate the future.
excogitate	Think out, plan, or devise. The scientist must stop to observe and start to excogitate.
form theories	Develop into a distinctive entity.
gamble	Bet (a sum of money. They gambled their money on cards.
guess	Guess correctly solve by guessing. I guess she is angry at me for standing her up.
hypothecate	To believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds. A hypothecated tax.
hypothesise	To believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds.
hypothesize	Put (something) forward as a hypothesis. Lack of cushioning in shoes has been hypothesized as a cause of running injuries.
job	Cheat; betray. His game plan is to buy in then job the shares on at a profit.
make guesses	Make by combining materials and parts.
make suppositions	Amount to.
meditate	Think deeply about (something. He went off to meditate on the new idea.
mull	Think about (a fact, proposal, or request) deeply and at length. The government is mulling an overhaul of outdated insurance laws.
mull over	Heat with sugar and spices to make a hot drink.
muse	Reflect deeply on a subject.
ponder	Think about (something) carefully, especially before making a decision or reaching a conclusion. I pondered the question of what clothes to wear for the occasion.
postulate	Take as a given assume as a postulate or axiom. The chapter was then allowed to postulate the bishop of Bath.
reflect	Reflect deeply on a subject. Drive carefully the wet road reflects.
ruminate	(of a ruminant) chew the cud. Cows ruminate.
suppose	Expect believe or suppose. Suppose we leave this to the police.
surmise	Imagine to be the case or true or probable. I surmised that the butler did it.
take a chance	Remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract.
take a risk	Admit into a group or community.
take a venture	Carry out.
theorise	To believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds.
theorize	Form or construct theories. The classic model of war in the modern era was theorized by the Prussian general and strategist Karl von Clausewitz.
think over	Dispose the mind in a certain way.
venture	Dare to do or say something that may be considered audacious (often used as a polite expression of hesitation or apology. Agents for other people s money they do not venture their own capital.
wager	Maintain with or as if with a bet. Everyone will be able to make single bets rather than having to wager on three matches.

Usage Examples of "Speculate" as a verb

• My colleagues speculate about my private life.
• Philosophers have speculated on the question of God for thousands of years.
• He didn't look as though he had the money to speculate in shares.
• Observers speculated that the authorities wished to improve their image.

Associations of "Speculate" (30 Words)

anticipatory	Happening, performed, or felt in anticipation of something. An anticipatory flash of excitement.
assume	Take or begin to have (power or responsibility. He assumes the lotus position.
assuming	Arrogant or presumptuous. On a subject like this it would be too assuming for me to decide.
assumption	The taking up of the body and soul of the Virgin Mary when her earthly life had ended. Any society is built upon certain assumptions.
conjecture	To believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds. He dismissed it as mere conjecture.
contemplate	Consider as a possibility. She couldn t even begin to contemplate the future.
expect	Consider obligatory request and expect. We expect great things of you.
expectancy	The state of thinking or hoping that something, especially something good, will happen. An indicator of expectancy in development.
guess	Put forward of a guess in spite of possible refutation. He took her aside and I guessed that he was offering her a job.
guesswork	An estimate based on little or no information. Answering this question will involve you in a certain amount of guesswork.
hypothesis	A proposition made as a basis for reasoning, without any assumption of its truth. The hypothesis that every event has a cause.
hypothesize	Put (something) forward as a hypothesis. Lack of cushioning in shoes has been hypothesized as a cause of running injuries.
inductive	Possessing inductance. Instinct rather than inductive reasoning marked her approach to life.
infer	Believe to be the case. From these facts we can infer that crime has been increasing.
inference	The reasoning involved in drawing a conclusion or making a logical judgment on the basis of circumstantial evidence and prior conclusions rather than on the basis of direct observation. It seemed a fair inference that such books would be grouped together.
mistakenly	By accident or oversight; accidentally. They mistakenly believed her to be pregnant.
mull	A term used in Scottish names of promontories. She began to mull over the various possibilities.
optimistically	In a way that shows hope and confidence about the future. He spoke optimistically about what is ahead.
ponder	Think about (something) carefully, especially before making a decision or reaching a conclusion. She sat pondering over her problem.
predict	Make a prediction about tell in advance. It is too early to predict a result.
presume	Be arrogant or impertinent enough to do something. I presumed that the man had been escorted from the building.
reasoning	Endowed with the capacity to reason. He explained the reasoning behind his decision at a media conference.
reckon	Establish by calculation. His debts were reckoned at 300 000.
ruminate	Chew the cuds. Goats ruminated nonchalantly around them.
speculation	Continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature. This is pure speculation on my part.
suppose	Take for granted or as a given suppose beforehand. I m supposed to be meeting someone at the airport.
supposition	A belief held without proof or certain knowledge; an assumption or hypothesis. Their outrage was based on supposition and hearsay.
surmise	Imagine to be the case or true or probable. Charles was glad to have his surmise confirmed.
theorize	To believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds. Galileo theorized the motion of the stars.
think	An instance of deliberate thinking. I think that he is her boyfriend.