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

Despite this seemingly critical importance to the automaker at a time when its profit margins are evaporating, Tesla may be contemplating a future without China. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 4 Aug. 2026

A number of sports media sites and fan blogs took that to mean the Kings were contemplating a buyout, generating stories about possible destinations and LaVine’s potential fit with other teams. — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 2 Aug. 2026

To help those contemplating a foreign move get started, Forbes has picked 96 attractive retirement locales across 24 different countries on five continents. — Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Because of these problems, the Federal Reserve is contemplating leaving the check processing business. — Jay L. Zagorsky, The Conversation, 24 July 2026

After spending the dramatic hour contemplating a promotion — one that would take him away from his ship and his crew — Captain Pike relays his final decision. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 23 July 2026

Why would somebody who is complaining about the hot July sun also be contemplating a trip to Jamaica? — Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 19 July 2026

Prior and McGuiness are still contemplating who will follow Sánchez. — Katie Woo, New York Times, 14 July 2026

The Sox are contemplating selecting either UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, Texas high school shortstop Grady Emerson or Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey with the first pick. — Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2026