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

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

Members of the public, at recent meetings, though, have raised concerns about traffic and the financial agreements the city is contemplating. — Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Advertisement Leaders contemplating an October surprise or an offensive after the midterms must remember that uncomfortable truth. — Ali Vaez, Time, 21 Oct. 2026

The writers Jill Lepore, Gideon Lewis-Kraus, Andrew Marantz, and Joshua Rothman will parse through questions such as these, contemplating what the future holds for a technology that, for better or worse, seems here to stay. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026

For eight days in April, along the rocky coastline in Gloucester, Massachusetts, the new president of Georgetown University spent time at a Jesuit retreat center, quietly contemplating the task before him. — Sophia Solano, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026

The offer came at a time when Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and many other public school districts in Florida, have closed or consolidated schools and are contemplating even more closures. — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026

Players sitting on the fence contemplating whether or not to commit to LIV Golf's future will be allowed to sit a bit longer. — Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Discussions about real estate or expanding your family or contemplating a future vacation will appeal. — Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 6 Oct. 2026