Synonym Chooser

How is the word meditate different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of meditate are muse, ponder, and ruminate. While all these words mean "to consider or examine attentively or deliberately," meditate implies a definite focusing of one's thoughts on something so as to understand it deeply.

meditated on the meaning of life

When can muse be used instead of meditate?

The meanings of muse and meditate largely overlap; however, muse suggests a more or less focused daydreaming as in remembrance.

mused upon childhood joys

Where would ponder be a reasonable alternative to meditate?

The words ponder and meditate can be used in similar contexts, but ponder implies a careful weighing of a problem or, often, prolonged inconclusive thinking about a matter.

pondered the course of action

When is ruminate a more appropriate choice than meditate?

In some situations, the words ruminate and meditate are roughly equivalent. However, ruminate implies going over the same matter in one's thoughts again and again but suggests little of either purposive thinking or rapt absorption.

ruminated on past disappointments

Example Sentences

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 meditate This could be a great time to journal or meditate to untangle your feelings, Aries. Valerie Mesa, People.com, 19 Mar. 2025 The play becomes thematically twinned with Jacobs-Jenkins’ The Comeuppance in its approach to meditating on the past and stacking it against the present to better understand the future. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2025 Advice like meditating daily for an hour or sharpening up our golf game for networking purposes is useless to women because none of us have time for that. Cherie Kloss, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025 In long-term meditators, the PCC is quieter than in people who don’t meditate, explains Lazar. Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 17 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for meditate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meditate
Verb
  • While contemplating his former love and his future as a father, Massey conjures up the apparition of his beloved Catherine.
    Claire Franken, TVLine, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Boasberg has been contemplating whether to hold any administration officials in contempt of court for ignoring his orders last month to turn around planes that were carrying the deportees to El Salvador.
    Alanna Durkin Richer, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The spaces from which Trump seeks to exclude the AP are not a press facility like the Brady Press Briefing Room and are intended for the president’s personal use, McArthur argued.
    Ella Lee, The Hill, 17 Apr. 2025
  • The administration claims the cuts are intended to reduce redundancy and inefficiency.
    Catherine Blackwood, Scientific American, 17 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Fans took to the comments to both praise and ponder Trainor's new look.
    Tracy Wright, Fox News, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Today, train stops are preserved with wooden shelters with picnic tables, encouraging hikers, bikers, and horseback riders to stop to ponder the trail’s rich railroad history.
    Erin Gifford, Southern Living, 22 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The park plans to open restaurants, trams and excursions earlier to accommodate visitors.
    Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025
  • His office also checks for defunct street lights weekly and reports them to the city and San Diego Gas & Electric for replacement, and plans to plant dozens of trees around transit corridors in his district after securing grant funding.
    Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Rahill has an endless supply of stories to entertain his passengers, from dicey black bear encounters to scraping mites off his hand with a knife after handling an armadillo.
    Uma Raja, Sun Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Chattanooga, Tennessee Equal parts city escape and nature retreat, Chattanooga offers tons of activities to keep your group entertained, plus great food and plenty of art.
    Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 23 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • This season’s problem have been down to injuries and fatigue, a result of going deep in three or four competitions for the last eight years and exacerbated by an ageing squad.
    Sam Lee, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
  • Instead, the Knicks went 0-10 against the league’s top three teams (the Celtics, Cavaliers and Thunder).
    James L. Edwards III, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The dispute ended up before the Supreme Court, and Chief Justice John Roberts put that deadline on hold to allow the high court more time to consider the matter.
    Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Legal representatives for Nelly urged the judge presiding over the case to consider delaying the dismissal and holding St. Lunatics accountable for the legal charges incurred.
    Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The Road to Palmyra After years of violence, Syrians hope to restore the ancient city in the desert.
    The Dial, The Dial, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Now Versace will be part of the Prada family and hope to experience the same growth as its parent company, as last year, revenues at Prada Group jumped 15 percent, to more than $6 billion.
    Tori Latham, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Meditate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meditate. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

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