Synonyms of muse

muse 1 of 2

noun

as in poet

a person who writes poetry

where is the muse who will sing of this man's great and noble deeds?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• poet
• minstrel
• bard
• rimester
• rhymester
• versifier
• poetaster
• poetess
• troubadour
• lyricist
• poet laureate
• sonneteer
• rhapsodist
• rhymer
• epigrammatist
• scop
• rhapsode
• epigrammatizer

muse

2 of 2

verb

as in to ruminate

Related Words

• ruminate
• ponder
• meditate
• contemplate
• reflect
• project
• reminisce
• relive
• plan
• invent
• make up
• concoct
• daydream
• re-create
• manufacture
• dream
• foresee
• fabricate
• vision
• fantasy
• hallucinate
• fantasize
• prefigure
• visualize
• envision
• imagine
• image
• envisage
• fancy
• feature
• conceive
• conjure (up)
• picture
• conceit
• stargaze
• see
• ideate

Synonym Chooser

How is the word muse different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of muse are meditate, ponder, and ruminate. While all these words mean "to consider or examine attentively or deliberately," muse suggests a more or less focused daydreaming as in remembrance.

mused upon childhood joys

When is it sensible to use meditate instead of muse?

While in some cases nearly identical to muse, meditate implies a definite focusing of one's thoughts on something so as to understand it deeply.

meditated on the meaning of life

When might ponder be a better fit than muse?

The meanings of ponder and muse largely overlap; however, ponder implies a careful weighing of a problem or, often, prolonged inconclusive thinking about a matter.

pondered the course of action

Where would ruminate be a reasonable alternative to muse?

While the synonyms ruminate and muse are close in meaning, ruminate implies going over the same matter in one's thoughts again and again but suggests little of either purposive thinking or rapt absorption.

ruminated on past disappointments

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of muse

Noun

Butts mused to the crowd, and Wells gave a shy grin. —Rachel Raposas, People.com, 23 July 2025

During a pre-Open sit-down with reporters last week, Scheffler mused on the ephemeral nature of victory, wondering aloud at his own drive to collect trophies. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 23 July 2025

Verb

Norway famously gave us Liv Ullmann, muse to the Swedish auteur Ingmar Bergman, but since then, this country of just 5.55 million people continues to punch above its weight, adding a long line of actresses of a similar caliber. —Damon Wise, Deadline, 11 July 2025

The entrance hall features a tribute to Sardinian artist Maria Lai, a Marras muse. —Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 21 July 2025

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