Difference between Speculate and Contemplate

SPECULATE vs CONTEMPLATE: VERB

Reflect deeply on a subject
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
Invest at a risk
To think, meditate or reflect on a subject; to deliberate or cogitate
To make an inference based on inconclusive evidence; to surmise or conjecture
To make a risky trade in the hope of making a profit; to venture or gamble
To believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds

Look at thoughtfully; observe deep in thought
Consider as a possibility
Think intently and at length, as for spiritual purposes
Reflect deeply on a subject
To think about something in a concentrated manner or for an extended period of time. To think deeply about something; to ponder or consider.
To consider as a possibility.

To consider by turning a subject in the mind, and viewing it in its different aspects and relations; to meditate; to contemplate; to theorize
To view subjects from certain premises given or assumed, and infer conclusions respecting them a priori.
To purchase with the expectation of a contingent advance in value, and a consequent sale at a profit; -- often, in a somewhat depreciative sense, of unsound or hazardous transactions.
To engage in the buying or selling of a commodity with an element of risk on the chance of profit.
To engage in a course of reasoning often based on inconclusive evidence; conjecture or theorize.
To assume to be true without conclusive evidence.

To consider or have in view, as contingent or probable; to look forward to; to purpose; to intend.
To look at on all sides or in all its bearings; to view or consider with continued attention; to regard with deliberate care; to meditate on; to study.

To invest money for profit upon an uncertainty; take the risk of loss in view of possible gain; make a purchase or purchases, as of something liable to sudden fluctuations in price or to rapid deterioration, on the chance of selling at a large advance: as, to speculate in stocks.
To pursue truth by thinking, as by mathematical reasoning, by logical analysis, or by the review of data already collected.
To take a discriminating view of; consider attentively; speculate upon; examine; inspect: as, to speculate the nature of a thing.
To view as from a watch-tower or observatory; observe.
To take a discursive view of a subject or subjects; note diverse aspects, relations, or probabilities; meditate; conjecture: often implying absence of definite method or result.

To view, look at, or observe with continued attention.
To consider with continued attention; reflect upon; ponder; study; meditate on.
To consider or have in view, as a future act or event; intend.
To regard; consider.
Synonyms To consider, meditate upon, muse upon, reflect upon, ponder; dwell upon, think about. To design, plan, purpose.
Look at thoughtfully
Observe deep in thought
To think studiously; study; muse; meditate; consider deliberately.

Mull over, Hypothecate, Job, Meditate, Muse, Reflect, Suppose, Ruminate, Mull, Contemplate, Ponder, Theorise, Conjecture, Hypothesize, Theorize

Envision, Envisage, Imagine, Consider, Think over, Chew over, Mull over, Study, Muse, Reflect, Meditate, Speculate, Ruminate, Mull, Ponder

Guess, Believe, Think over, Chew over, Job, Meditate, Muse, Reflect, Suppose, Ruminate, Mull, Contemplate, Ponder, Theorise, Conjecture

Explore, Foresee, Envisage, Imagine, Consider, Think over, Chew over, Study, Muse, Reflect, Meditate, Speculate, Ruminate, Mull, Ponder

Instead, take the time to contemplate your answer.
Legislature seriously would contemplate adopting such a system.
Italian legal system does not contemplate this composition.
September, refused to contemplate the possibility of withdrawal.
This case does not contemplate child pornography, period.
Americans could hardly contemplate this level of sacrifice.
Crosby, however, seldom bothers to contemplate his future.
Howard steadfastly refused to contemplate an official apology.
Always contemplate on the fundamental principle of life.
If you contemplate at ease, you are a Bodhisattva; if you do not contemplate at ease, you are an ordinary person.