as in melancholy
given to or marked by long, quiet thinking
rainy days often put her in a pensive mood
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pensive
For a few seconds, save for a piano playing a few pensive notes, there was silence.
—
Edwin Goei, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2025
In the film, Johansson’s character, a lonely young woman, bonds with a pensive movie star played by Bill Murray in Tokyo.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 14 May 2025
The pensive, modest filmmaker said that there was one common thread that flowed through all his work — family.
—Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2025
The music is an odd blend of classic podcast atmospherics—pensive follow-along vibes, a little jazz, guitar-rock blasts to rev up the narrative awe—that somehow hangs together fine.
—Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pensive
Edwin Goei, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2025
In the film, Johansson’s character, a lonely young woman, bonds with a pensive movie star played by Bill Murray in Tokyo.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 14 May 2025
The pensive, modest filmmaker said that there was one common thread that flowed through all his work — family.
—Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2025
The music is an odd blend of classic podcast atmospherics—pensive follow-along vibes, a little jazz, guitar-rock blasts to rev up the narrative awe—that somehow hangs together fine.
—Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pensive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pensive
Adjective
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In this evocative, melancholy tale, an Italian champion racer is tasked with driving a car from Italy into Russia.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
27 June 2025
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The commercial, as many may recall, features a montage of animal clips set to the melancholy ballad.—
Marina Watts,
People.com,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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Beneath the surface of its superlatives lies depth — thoughtful nods to heritage, reinterpretations of tradition and layers of cultural meaning embedded in contemporary forms.—
Natasha Amar,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
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His career consists of multitudes: the comedic if not brash hip-hop radio host forged by the shock-jock era, and the thoughtful political commentator, able to articulate what even his critics would describe as a pretty nuanced perspective on the world.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
23 June 2025
Adjective
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Xi was tougher than most, but his behavior was still reflective of the context of the times.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
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Trump’s recent attitude toward TV news is reflective of that of the rest of the country, though millions are still watching Fox News.—
Megan Poinski,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
Adjective
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Yet Gomez has largely urged his flock to lead contemplative lives in the name of Jesus, Mary and the Saints, which pales to the witness practiced not just by Francis but by many in the L.A. Archdiocese itself.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2025
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His contemplative, emotionally nuanced storytelling has established him as a significant voice in contemporary Japanese cinema.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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For all the highs that Young Thug’s performance delivered, there comes one somber realization.—
Mark P. Braboy,
Rolling Stone,
23 June 2025
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There are places where 28 Years Later is gorgeously somber, echoing the desolate lyricism of the first movie.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
19 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pensive. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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