Synonyms of contemplating

contemplating

verb

present participle of contemplate

1

as in pondering

to give serious and careful thought to

she contemplated the problem for several hours before reaching a decision

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pondering
• considering
• debating
• studying
• questioning
• eyeing
• entertaining
• weighing
• exploring
• reviewing
• analyzing
• deliberating
• cogitating
• ruminating
• meditating
• thinking (about or over)
• looking at
• wrestling (with)
• revolving
• mulling (over)
• chewing on
• turning
• digesting
• poring (over)
• perpending
• chewing over
• kicking around
• beating one's brains out (about)
• reminiscing
• reasoning
• reflecting (on or upon)
• cudgeling one's brains (about)
• concluding
• believing
• musing (upon)
• opining
• absorbing
• speculating (about)
• conceiving
• brooding (about or over)
• fretting (about or over)
• dwelling (on or upon)
• second-guessing
• assimilating
• obsessing (about or over)
• fixating (on or upon)
• drinking (in)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignoring
• disregarding
• overlooking
• rejecting
• dismissing
• slighting
• pooh-poohing

2

as in planning

to have in mind as a purpose or goal

he waited patiently, contemplating revenge all the while

Synonyms & Similar Words

• planning
• intending
• looking
• hoping
• going
• trying
• proposing
• wishing
• aiming
• meaning
• designing
• calculating
• meditating
• aspiring
• attempting
• purporting
• considering
• purposing
• pondering
• allowing
• dreaming
• debating
• figuring on
• plotting
• struggling
• endeavoring
• striving
• effecting
• accomplishing
• achieving
• performing
• executing
• mulling (over)
• scheming

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of contemplating

So Dzirasa began contemplating other ways to connect two disparate brain regions. — Simon Makin, Scientific American, 29 Oct. 2026

Madeleine is beautiful and melancholy, spending hours driving around San Francisco and contemplating a painting that seems to haunt her. — Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026

But other governments, including Altamonte Springs, are already contemplating big cuts to library services. — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Oct. 2026

The city is contemplating $185 million in financial participation, including a 35-year tax revenue-sharing agreement and about $25 million to $40 million in fee waivers. — Sacbee.com, 27 Oct. 2026

Anyone contemplating retirement abroad should investigate insurance, emergency arrangements and the ability to pay upfront before making the move. — Lance B. Fulford, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2026

And last year, the Justice Department sent a letter of warning to leaders in Asheville and Buncombe County, North Carolina, contemplating creating their own programs. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026

The Australian actor and Harriet Dyer – his real-life wife and on-screen partner – had over the summer said goodbye to romantic sitcom Colin From Accounts and were contemplating their next steps while raising a young family in Los Angeles. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2026

There were starkly arranged a cappella vocals, wistful singer-songwriter tunes for briskly contemplating the boy from last night, and a dance-floor track once intended for Madonna. — Jack Denton, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026