DELIBERATING Synonyms: 56 Similar and Opposite Words

deliberating

verb

present participle of deliberate

as in pondering

to give serious and careful thought to the jury deliberated the case for three days before returning a verdict

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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 deliberating After deliberating for two hours, a Platte County jury found a Kansas City man guilty of fleeing from a sheriff’s deputy at a high rate of speed last year. — Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 30 Oct. 2026 The jury is expected to start deliberating a verdict as soon as Tuesday. — Ellise Shafer, Variety, 29 Oct. 2026 Jurors began deliberating Wednesday afternoon and continued Thursday and Friday before breaking for the weekend. — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 Jurors began deliberating shortly before midday after closing arguments Monday morning. — Jessica Hill, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026 The jury is expected to begin deliberating on Tuesday morning, after Tinkler Mendez instructs them on the law. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026 Desronvil was the only deliberating juror on the 12-person panel who voted to convict Clancy. — Michael Ruiz , Kayleigh McEnany, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026 The university's faculty is expected to begin deliberating a resolution of no confidence Wednesday. — ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026 Jurors continued deliberating on whether Martin and Payton were guilty of second-degree murder or voluntary manslaughter in the deaths of Martinez, Alexander and Davis, or if the men acted in self-defense. — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deliberating

Verb

Plenty of others, namely frustrated fans, are pondering the other stuff for him.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026
This can be especially uncomfortable when the prevailing narrative holds its own special significance, but pondering such complexities strengthens our minds and our spirits.

— AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of pondering

Verb

Now, under new ownership, organizers are contemplating future growth that could involve perhaps 20,000 participants, more visitors from outside North Carolina and a place among the country’s premier destination races.

— Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 5 Nov. 2026
The novel begins with Percheron contemplating news of Field’s death, and proceeds to trace their youths, including their meeting, in 1807, when Field is humbled by Percheron’s virtuosity on the piano.

— The New Yorker, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of contemplating

Verb

Minutes after Peña's announcement, the lower house voted 78-0 to impeach him; on Thursday evening, the Senate was debating whether to remove him from office.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 2026
The industry has been working to answer that question by comparing benchmarks, debating reasoning performance and seeing each new model outperform the last.

— Kumar Chivukula, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of debating

Verb

There are also two off-site restaurants worth considering, both reachable on foot or via the hotel’s tuk-tuk.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Nov. 2026
But according to multiple reports, including the Associated Press, Blackburn is not considering tapping Hegseth.

— Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of considering

Verb

Before working with Pancho, Chang and his colleagues spent over a decade studying the basic neurobiology of speech in the human brain using similar recordings from non-paralyzed subjects.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2026
Despite the controversy, some researchers are studying DNA editing of embryos.

— Gerry Smith, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of studying

Verb

The Blackburn team is focused on the transition, not entertaining baseless speculation.

— Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 6 Nov. 2026
Festive Diwali decorations filled Rancho Cordova’s Stone Creek Park for the city’s fourth annual Diwali celebration, with traditional Indian dancers and children’s activities entertaining a crowd of more than 2,500 attendees, according to Vempati.

— Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of entertaining

Verb

And every fashion enthusiast knows that’s the true sign of a good purchase—questioning yourself the entire time, but proceeding as if the world is your runway.

— Tyler Watamanuk, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2026
Since then, reports have revealed the FBI is questioning Meghan about the allegations.

— Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 10 Nov. 2026

Definition of questioning

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deliberates

deliberating

deliberation

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“Deliberating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deliberating. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of deliberating

verb

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