contemplates

verb

present tense third-person singular of contemplate
1
as in ponders
to give serious and careful thought to she contemplated the problem for several hours before reaching a decision

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in intends
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 contemplates The series contemplates topics like shady lending practices by financial institutions — something that will resonate deeply with today’s economy — and the ethics of placing oneself in a news story. — Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 The new agreement reportedly contemplates enormous amounts of private investment, but even supporters acknowledge that major increases in production could take years. — Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 Unrivaled, the 3×3 women’s professional basketball league, has completed an oversubscribed Series C fundraise at a value of $650 million, as the nearly three-year-old organization contemplates further geographic expansion. — Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 26 Aug. 2026 The pair move in together, as McConaughey contemplates a Texas gubernatorial run. — Shauna Lyon, New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2026 As humanity contemplates the potentially catastrophic effects of climate change, Sulej says the story of the Mastodonsaurus offers some hope. — ABC News, 22 July 2026 This week, Gracie Abrams pens a tearjerker on mother-daughter relationships, Steve Lacy escapes the abyss of a breakup on a colossal double track, and Beabadoobee contemplates risk and reward on a fuzzy new single. — Rolling Stone, 17 July 2026 The agreement contemplates beginning the design phase of the new stations while the arbitration is ongoing. — Joshua Ceballos, Miami Herald, 16 June 2026 It’s been a long time since Steven Spielberg directed a film as quintessentially Spielbergian as Disclosure Day, which contemplates how humankind might react to proof that extraterrestrial life exists. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contemplates
  1. ponders
  2. intends
  3. considers
  4. plans
  5. entertains
  6. means
  7. debates
  8. proposes
Verb
  • While Tavares coach Gavin Jones ponders how to replace 18 transfer players heading into the season, just down Route 441, new Eustis coach Tanner Harris is pumping some energy into a program that has had four coaches in three years.
    — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Vieira ponders the dilemma from his own perspective as a coach, having had spells in charge at New York City, Nice, Crystal Palace, Strasbourg and Genoa.
    — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 15 June 2026
Definition of ponders
Verb
  • Given that Rockstar Games intends to sell millions of GTA VI copies, the game will likely move to new systems at some point.
    — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Building faster without sacrificing design Monumental intends to expand beyond bricklaying into other parts of constructing a building’s shell.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of intends
Verb
  • See the Republican Party, which considers Islamophobia as one of its main characteristics.
    — Ayman M. Mohyeldin, Vanity Fair, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The grievances extend to what Algeria cites as Emirati support for Khalifa Haftar in Libya (where Algeria backs the government in Tripoli) and Emirati involvement in the Sahel, both regions Algiers considers its own sphere.
    — Tareq Alotaiba, semafor.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of considers
Verb
  • Customer missions next Muon now plans to incorporate the flight data into further development of Starlight.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Muse is rolling out to adults in the US for free first, and Meta plans to add the agent to its AI smart glasses soon, but didn’t provide a timeline or specify which agentic features this would involve.
    — Amy O’Brien, Vogue, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of plans
Verb
  • Emma Woodhouse entertains herself by meddling in the romantic affairs of her neighbors.
    — Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Steel Pier still entertains families, and the wooden walkway remains a tradition for many families.
    — Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of entertains
Verb
  • Chelsea’s less selective approach to selling within the Premier League means Arsenal have sent £149million to their fellow Londoners, more than to any other domestic rivals.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Terrific—carry on with your chubby little juice grenades and tell your partner that love means never criticizing someone’s convenience foods.
    — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of means
Verb
  • When the College Football Playoff selection committee pores over data points and debates the merits of each at-large hopeful in early December, the results of Week 2 are bound to loom large.
    — Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • For now, retailers can keep selling the drinks and consumers can continue buying them, but distributors may become increasingly reluctant to replenish inventory while Congress debates the category's future.
    — Brandon Gomez, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of debates
Verb
  • The company’s Tau Scaling Law, unveiled in May, proposes a different route to increasing transistor density without relying on cutting-edge extreme ultraviolet lithography.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Project Polymath, for instance — founded by Dan Futrell, former CEO of the Pat Tillman Foundation, which gives scholarships to military veterans — proposes to mentor bachelor's degree students beginning in 2028.
    — Jon Marcus, NPR, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of proposes

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contemplates
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Cite this Entry

“Contemplates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contemplates. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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