as in grinding
to reduce to fine particles
the dentist was in the habit of mulling the mercury amalgam in the palm of his hand
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Recent Examples of mulling
In another, a judge mulling permanent restrictions on ICE’s operations in the building last year deemed the agency’s detention of asylum seekers inhumane.
—
Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 11 June 2026
Japan has recently taken steps to expand its defense posture, including lifting its ban on lethal arms exports and mulling changes to Article 9 of its constitution, which renounces war and the maintenance of armed forces.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 31 May 2026
Richer economies like those in Europe are mulling building fertilizer stockpiles, reducing duties on imports, and onshoring production, but poorer ones have limited room to adapt.
—semafor.com, 29 May 2026
Disappointed by the abrupt end at WGN, Lewis had nonetheless been mulling a new career path for the better part of a year amid broader industry contractions.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
New York lawmakers are mulling a three-year moratorium on permits for new high-energy data centers, essentially telling residents that data centers are the problem.
—Iulia Lupse, Sun Sentinel, 24 May 2026
Thus Director Park will likely be mulling over the sprawling monster sci-fi Hope, by his countryman Na Hong-Jin, and possibly Léa Mysius’s thriller-romp The Birthday Party, which contains a lot of Park’s trademark black humor.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 23 May 2026
Imagine if all those undecided students who are mulling over taking computer science were to suddenly gravitate to the philosophy realm.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
Israel's place in the contest has become contentious as outrage over the carnage in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and Iran has grown from Rome to Madrid with massive popular protests and European Union politicians mulling new sanctions.
—ABC News, 13 May 2026
Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 11 June 2026
Japan has recently taken steps to expand its defense posture, including lifting its ban on lethal arms exports and mulling changes to Article 9 of its constitution, which renounces war and the maintenance of armed forces.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 31 May 2026
Richer economies like those in Europe are mulling building fertilizer stockpiles, reducing duties on imports, and onshoring production, but poorer ones have limited room to adapt.
—semafor.com, 29 May 2026
Disappointed by the abrupt end at WGN, Lewis had nonetheless been mulling a new career path for the better part of a year amid broader industry contractions.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
New York lawmakers are mulling a three-year moratorium on permits for new high-energy data centers, essentially telling residents that data centers are the problem.
—Iulia Lupse, Sun Sentinel, 24 May 2026
Thus Director Park will likely be mulling over the sprawling monster sci-fi Hope, by his countryman Na Hong-Jin, and possibly Léa Mysius’s thriller-romp The Birthday Party, which contains a lot of Park’s trademark black humor.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 23 May 2026
Imagine if all those undecided students who are mulling over taking computer science were to suddenly gravitate to the philosophy realm.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
Israel's place in the contest has become contentious as outrage over the carnage in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and Iran has grown from Rome to Madrid with massive popular protests and European Union politicians mulling new sanctions.
—ABC News, 13 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mulling
Verb
-
The boys were grinding today, my goodness.—
Mark Anderson,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
-
Antonelli had actually just managed to pass Russell on track on lap 61 before grinding to a halt a lap later.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
15 June 2026
Verb
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Joseph, Nomkhitha and the children stood silently around the dining-room table, trying to calm their pounding hearts; the littlest ones shivered from the cold and fear.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
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Eight miles down the road, Ragsdale’s friend and Alva’s former ESL teacher Lisa Weinstein woke up to pounding at her door.—
Karen Valby,
Vanity Fair,
16 June 2026
Verb
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Inland Empire cities in the path of the notorious San Andreas fault haven’t ordered the retrofit or demolition of old brick buildings, which could rain debris capable of crushing pedestrians, cars and buses with deadly force onto sidewalks and streets during shaking.—
Shelby Grad,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
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To Palczewski, the wait from the crushing end of Denver’s 2025 season to hearing a deal was on the table felt long enough.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Kane looked laboured and lost at Euro 2024 but England should be getting the best version of him in the coming weeks, which gives them a chance of beating any opponent.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
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Renard led the team in the 2022 World Cup, famously beating Argentina 2-1 in the group stage.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mulling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mulling. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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