calculating

Definition

Describes someone who carefully plans things to benefit themselves, often without caring about others' feelings. Can also mean using math to work out an answer, but most commonly describes a person's character.

Usage & Nuances

Usually describes negative character traits: a 'calculating' person is often seen as cold, strategic, or manipulative. Formal and literary; not used for ordinary math. Use 'calculating' for people, not for basic math actions ('calculating machine' is rare/old-fashioned).

Example Sentences