as in thoughtful
given to or marked by long, quiet thinking
a contemplative person who likes to go on solitary walks the contemplative life of the monks at the abbey
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contemplative
Grohl seemed contemplative Wednesday night, thanking his band, family and extended crew several times during the show, celebrating 30 years of Foo Fighters concerts.
—
Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026
While wrestling is physical and intense, golf is more contemplative.
—Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2026
There, the tea ceremony was both a contemplative act and an occasion to display Chinese calligraphy, paintings and ceramics.
—The Conversation, 7 Jan. 2026
Adventurous cinephiles came to worship his enveloping dramas, and directors like Jim Jarmusch and Gus Van Sant were heavily influenced by his contemplative style and underappreciated deadpan comedic style.
—Tim Grierson, Rolling Stone, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contemplative
Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026
While wrestling is physical and intense, golf is more contemplative.
—Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2026
There, the tea ceremony was both a contemplative act and an occasion to display Chinese calligraphy, paintings and ceramics.
—The Conversation, 7 Jan. 2026
Adventurous cinephiles came to worship his enveloping dramas, and directors like Jim Jarmusch and Gus Van Sant were heavily influenced by his contemplative style and underappreciated deadpan comedic style.
—Tim Grierson, Rolling Stone, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contemplative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contemplative
Adjective
-
Some parents carefully vetted and chose thoughtful names to add to the birth certificate, while others undoubtedly may have selected them on a whim or as a result of losing a bet.—
Cooper Worth,
Des Moines Register,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Soft, breathable materials and thoughtful construction have made the silhouette way more wearable, offering a happy medium between your comfiest sneakers and your dressiest pumps.—
Nina Derwin,
Glamour,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
There’s less Lou Reed swagger and more Paul Simon melancholy, a survey of modern American accoutrements and spiritual confusion delivered with a shrug.—
Linnie Greene,
Pitchfork,
21 Jan. 2026
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At some point this winter — maybe a few days, maybe a few weeks — melancholy will fade and Hurricanes fans will be able to appreciate all that was accomplished during a season when UM got back its good name and returned to prominence.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The idea of making the Super Bowl also made Dobbs feel reflective.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
25 Jan. 2026
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Zar described the reopening as both joyful and reflective, acknowledging the emotional weight carried by families who lived through evacuation, loss, and uncertainty.—
Michelle Edgar,
Daily News,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Whether following a pride of majestic lions, taking a meditative sunrise bush walk, or soaring high above the Serengeti in a hot-air balloon, travelers are able to be present in a way that is all too uncommon in modern life.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
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And carving out the hour(s) to do it myself feels meditative, fun, and so satisfying.—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Despite this, one of the more poignant bronzes her mother made at this time is of Flora, seated quietly in an armchair, the curve of her body and downcast expression manifesting her pensive mood.—
Fiona Donovan,
Vanity Fair,
30 Dec. 2025
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There’s Walter’s serene cello and Marjorie’s pensive, slightly coy violin, sometimes playful or petulant or, still, a little vain and secretive — other times thin and trembling, lost in the haze of dementia.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
9 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Perhaps the most important question about AI in cars is not technical, but philosophical.—
Peter Lyon,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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That intimacy provides an emotional counterpoint to Rushdie’s more philosophical musings about art and religion, free speech and resistance, violent intent and forgiveness.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contemplative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contemplative. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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