as in melancholy
given to or marked by long, quiet thinking
he was clearly in a musing mood, and did not feel like talking just then
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Recent Examples of musing
Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
That’s one philosophical musing.
—Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY, 2 Oct. 2025
Here and nowhere else, Holland treats Kafka’s oeuvre not as abstract fodder for pithy musing, but as texts which were published at a real point in history, that came from the mind of a person and not a divine conduit.
—Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
The debate over whether algorithms can ever be truly impartial has been simmering for years; what’s new is the urgency to move from philosophical musing to enforceable standards.
—Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for musing
Noun
Reddit user u/TotalThing7 shared a nostalgic musing in the subreddit r/CasualConversation after watching a 1990s TV show.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
That’s one philosophical musing.
—Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY, 2 Oct. 2025
Here and nowhere else, Holland treats Kafka’s oeuvre not as abstract fodder for pithy musing, but as texts which were published at a real point in history, that came from the mind of a person and not a divine conduit.
—Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
The debate over whether algorithms can ever be truly impartial has been simmering for years; what’s new is the urgency to move from philosophical musing to enforceable standards.
—Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for musing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for musing
Adjective
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All the while, the river shimmers in the sun, blue then green, then melancholy and moody as cloud shadows sweep overhead.—
Roger Naylor,
AZCentral.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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This is an example of Anderson as a unique artist who uses whimsy, melancholy, innovative storytelling and a great deal of historical research, all on display in this visually rich gem.—
Mike Barnes,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Studies have shown that meditation can help lower blood pressure, boost immunity, improve sleep, and slow memory loss.—
Kris Slugg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
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People come on silent retreat for a week or two at a time and spend most of their days sitting in the Zendo—the meditation hall—facing a wall or tracing walking meditations on the gravel paths that meander through Upaya’s gardens.—
Michael Pollan,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Rams will be at home pondering what might have been.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
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That was the question that Golden Rain Foundation directors asked in August while pondering ways to reduce costs and improve efficiency.—
Anita Gosch,
Oc Register,
19 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Some parents carefully vetted and chose thoughtful names to add to the birth certificate, while others undoubtedly may have selected them on a whim or as a result of losing a bet.—
Cooper Worth,
Des Moines Register,
9 Jan. 2026
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Soft, breathable materials and thoughtful construction have made the silhouette way more wearable, offering a happy medium between your comfiest sneakers and your dressiest pumps.—
Nina Derwin,
Glamour,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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For your contemplation, consider the following charts.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
26 Jan. 2026
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The beginning of the year is often the time for contemplation and action.—
Heather L. Locus,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Slone has a much softer and more plaintive voice and, judging from his finely wrought songs, a tendency to contend with heartbreak not by going out and raging but by staying in and ruminating.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
15 Jan. 2026
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For instance, research finds that walking in nature results in diminished activation in the area of the brain associated with sadness and ruminating thoughts.—
Stacy Shaw,
Fortune,
26 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Celebrity manicurist Julie Kandalec created this gorgeous look by layering a reflective, shimmery pink over a true red polish.—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
31 Jan. 2026
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These reflective masses of relatively young material were deposited many millions of years ago during cataclysmic asteroid strikes that excavated vast basins on the lunar surface.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Whether set in Jewish eastern Europe or New York’s Lower East Side, Shtok’s range is on full display, from gossipy melodramas and elegiac reveries to coming of age portraits of shtetl adolescents and immigrant hustlers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
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Some writers are naturally drawn to this kind of reverie.—
Erin Somers,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Musing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/musing. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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