1
as in to ponder
to give serious and careful thought to
she contemplated the problem for several hours before reaching a decision
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to intend
to have in mind as a purpose or goal
he waited patiently, contemplating revenge all the while
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 contemplate
No employee can even contemplate intruding on her, much less with news like this.
—
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
Cathy, a housewife, had contemplated becoming a teacher, Griffin told me.
—
Gary Sernovitz,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
Against this backdrop, then, prospective CD account holders as well as those with an account set to mature this month, should start contemplating their next moves.
—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
For most high schoolers, the summer between sophomore and junior years means looking ahead to the ACT and, reflecting on the halfway point, starting to more seriously contemplate what the future has in store.
—
Jim Dudlicek,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for contemplate
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
Cathy, a housewife, had contemplated becoming a teacher, Griffin told me.
—
Gary Sernovitz,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
Against this backdrop, then, prospective CD account holders as well as those with an account set to mature this month, should start contemplating their next moves.
—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
For most high schoolers, the summer between sophomore and junior years means looking ahead to the ACT and, reflecting on the halfway point, starting to more seriously contemplate what the future has in store.
—
Jim Dudlicek,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for contemplate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contemplate
Verb
-
Even the most technology-savvy leaders are still pondering and probing where the ceiling is in terms of containing agent sprawl and complexity.
-
Any larger Hollywood studio would have likely insisted on a grander finale, but The Death of Robin Hood, produced by A24, left me pondering the foolishness of my need for such a denouement.
Verb
-
Key to watch for will be how a new government intends to tackle Britain's debt burden and revive sluggish growth without driving borrowing costs even higher.
-
While these drugs can be life-changing for many people, they are not always intended to be permanent.
Verb
-
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is reportedly considering stepping down and could announce a timetable for his departure as early as Monday, according to a report published Saturday.
-
Rigid gendered rules mean only those born to Parsi fathers are considered part of the community.
Verb
-
Under Cooper’s order, the center’s managers plan to meet with the board in mid-July to vote on how to move forward on construction, according to a Justice Department filing June 19.
-
Addie Richardson, who works at a mobility store located along Southwest 10th Street, said her business plans to leave the corridor when its lease expires later this year.
Verb
-
The material contained on this site is intended to inform, entertain and educate the reader and in no way represents an inducement to gamble legally or illegally or any sort of professional advice.
-
These series are designed to entertain and intrigue viewers, while letting advertisers spur purchases and sales,.
Verb
-
As the donations continue to grow, Joe Carr and his family hope this year's event will push the fundraiser past the $100,000 mark.
-
Many Labour members hope Burnham’s people skills and charisma can connect with the public more than the stolid, managerial Starmer could ever do.
Verb
-
For generations, those rules have been questioned and debated but rarely tested – until now.
-
The question of who will have the best record should be debated all summer.
Verb
-
But so have yields for other countries’ bonds as the world grapples with what the US-Israeli war with Iran means for inflation.
-
They are generally paid minimum wage, and any infraction or exam failure can mean an immediate withdrawal of one’s conditional employment offer, the former trainees interviewed said.
Cite this Entry
“Contemplate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contemplate. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
