cogitation

noun

ˌkä-jə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce cogitation (audio)
Definition of cogitationnext
as in thought
something imagined or pictured in the mind as long as there's a national deficit, interplanetary exploration will most likely remain an agreeable cogitation and nothing more

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cogitation Trump’s announcement, in particular, displays all the drawbacks of insufficient cogitation characteristic of so many of his ventures. — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026 The following cogitations, therefore, are not totally uninformed noisy opining. — Melik Kaylan, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024 The narrator knows that there is something cheapening and peculiarly hollow about all this cogitation. — Merve Emre, The New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2024 But Silicon Valley’s recent inventions invite galaxy-brain cogitation of the sort Harari is known for. — Daniel Immerwahr, The Atlantic, 6 Sep. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cogitation
  1. thought
  2. idea
  3. concept
  4. conception
  5. impression
  6. notion
Noun
  • August 23 – September 22 Your thoughts may be louder than usual this morning.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Do read columnist Michael Cunningham’s thoughts on the matter — but in the meantime, some basics.
    — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of thought
Noun
  • As Reynolds notes, this freedom cut against rock’s foundational idea of immediacy, the direct communication of feeling between artist and audience.
    — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Over time, Buddhism introduced ideas of reincarnation and karmic retribution, linking a person's fate after death to their actions in life.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of idea
Noun
  • Advances in electrical power systems, tracking technology, beam control and compact high-energy lasers are making the concept increasingly practical.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Though the idea proved nearly impossible to fully realize, the concept of a more fluid, non-rigid weaving style became central to Wiener’s practice.
    — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of concept
Noun
  • Risk, legal and compliance leaders belong in the room from the moment of conception, not the approval stage.
    — Olufunsho Peters, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The first is the art history of the work, which includes its conception, its construction, and its place within Serra’s practice overall.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of conception
Noun
  • Which environment gives you a better chance to make an impression?
    — John M. O'Connor, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • What left the greatest impression in La Jolla, however, was the staging by Danya Taymor, who would go on to win a Tony for her breathtakingly fluid direction.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of impression
Noun
  • Legal experts on the other side question the notion that a public nuisance can be defined so broadly to include both the sale of a legal product and the impact on carbon pollution, much of it coming from China and India.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Attorney General Todd Blanche on Sunday rejected the idea that election monitors being deployed to polls during the midterm elections will be armed, categorizing the notion as fearmongering and false.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of notion

Browse Nearby Words

cogitating
cogitation
cogitations
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cogitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cogitation. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of etiquette

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name tags
Words Named After People Quiz Find out who’s behind "leotard," "morphine," an...
See All