muse 1 of 2

muse

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verb

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of muse are meditate, ponder, and ruminate. While all these words mean "to consider or examine attentively or deliberately," muse suggests a more or less focused daydreaming as in remembrance.

mused upon childhood joys

When is it sensible to use meditate instead of muse?

While in some cases nearly identical to muse, meditate implies a definite focusing of one's thoughts on something so as to understand it deeply.

meditated on the meaning of life

When might ponder be a better fit than muse?

The meanings of ponder and muse largely overlap; however, ponder implies a careful weighing of a problem or, often, prolonged inconclusive thinking about a matter.

pondered the course of action

Where would ruminate be a reasonable alternative to muse?

While the synonyms ruminate and muse are close in meaning, 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 muse
Noun
Musk also mused about a third-party to challenge Trump, and said the president never would have been elected if not for him. Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 6 June 2025 The parading of military hardware through the streets of the nation’s capital is an unusual site in the U.S., though Trump has long mused out loud about wanting to hold such an event. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 16 June 2025
Verb
This combined with the iconic Garrard designs which have consistently proven to stand the test of time, reborn and refashioned for the muses of today, maintains our cultural relevance and enduring appeal. Felicity Carter, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025 Dafoe has become the director’s muse of late, having previously appeared in his past three films: The Lighthouse, The Northman and Nosferatu. Justin Kroll, Deadline, 11 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for muse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muse
Noun
  • His spouse is perilously close to beginning an affair with the best man at their wedding, now one of his authors, a war poet disillusioned by violence and fanaticism.
    Thomas Mallon, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
  • Police in Nevada County, California, searched for days to locate Welch; so did a a team of locals, campers and poets rallied by Gary Snyder, the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and environmentalist.
    Brendan Fitzgerald, Longreads, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • But Springsteen wasn’t spending all of his time ruminating.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 24 June 2025
  • The latest one sees Gi-hun wrecked with guilt and ruminating on the grisly games he's found himself in on two separate occasions.
    Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
Noun
  • With some rare exceptions—the eating of Sir Robin's minstrels, Ringo putting a hole in his pocket—the order of the scenes were completely irrelevant.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 29 Apr. 2025
  • In the early 1900s, Black performers often encountered dress code restrictions and had to acclimate their garments to fit the demands of their audiences, particularly in minstrel shows and vaudeville performances.
    Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The modern 55 and older homebuyer isn’t looking to sit all day on a recliner pondering our end of life options.
    Jamie Gold, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • The two countries have been engaged in aerial strikes and Trump had been pondering U.S. involvement for the past week.
    Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • Lk 10:25-37), that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception.
    Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
  • In the commercial, Clark sits in the locker room with her head down and eyes closed, seemingly meditating before a game.
    Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • While Leslie’s book is largely about Lennon, McCartney and their fruitful collaborations, contemplate what George Harrison became.
    John Tamny, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • Wright decided to come out after contemplating suicide in 2006.
    Jeff Nelson, People.com, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • That’s why employers must take the lead—not only in setting clear expectations around AI skills, but in ensuring that their hiring and training practices reflect the current educational landscape.
    Leadership Brainery, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • In a statement, Suga reflected on his time away from BTS and their fans.
    Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • Meanwhile, the International Wine and Spirits Record (IWSR) has projected that non-alcoholic beer will overtake ale to become the second-largest beer category by volume worldwide this year.
    Michelle Fox, CNBC, 5 July 2025
  • The Congressional Budget Office, a nonpartisan group responsible for scoring the budget, projects that the bill would increase federal deficits over the next 10 years by nearly $3.3 trillion.
    Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Muse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muse. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.

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