muse 1 of 2

Definition of musenext
as in poet
a person who writes poetry where is the muse who will sing of this man's great and noble deeds?

Synonyms & Similar Words

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muse

2 of 2

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
Is the muse speaking to you loud and clear? Usa Today, USA Today, 22 Feb. 2026 That Christy Turlington, an original Kors muse, closed the show, which honored his 45th anniversary, maximized the effect with just the right touch of nostalgia. José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 19 Feb. 2026
Verb
When EviDenS de Beauté launched 20 years ago, founder Charles-Edouard Barthes started the brand as a love letter to his wife and muse Eriko Nakamura. Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 13 Nov. 2025 Taken one at a time, the deployments can seem random or fickle — Trump will often muse about sending troops into a city, only to back track his comments and focus on a different city days later. Kat Lonsdorf, NPR, 3 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for muse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muse
Noun
  • Rankin is a celebrated visual artist whose works take pride of place in both public and private collections around the world; Brett is a novelist, poet, and essayist whose writing has been widely published.
    Tori Latham, Robb Report, 26 Feb. 2026
  • Prize-winning poet Renee Nicole Good was protecting her Minneapolis community, not penning poems, when ICE executed her on January 7th.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The film ruminates on guilt, familial strife, and trauma with Ball’s signature bittersweet touch, earning a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Television Movie.
    Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Feb. 2026
  • Instead of ruminating in your head, Burns suggests writing things down so your mind can unwind.
    Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 16 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Yet another quilt depicts a blackface minstrel as a reminder of whites who masqueraded as Blacks on Vaudeville and perpetuated demeaning stereotypes.
    Susan DeGrane, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
  • Louis Weslyn and Charles Albert wrote a horrifically racist blackface minstrel song called The Witch Behind the Moon that included lyrics about a Black witch who lived behind the moon and could fly down on her broomstick to snatch up children.
    Time, Time, 21 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • As androids are released from servitude and others chase down their own kind for their human masters, we're left to ponder the point-of-no-return for humanity and this artificial species.
    Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 1 Mar. 2026
  • Meanwhile, Derek’s mother-in-law visits, and Paul ponders his legacy.
    Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • After all, Moses famously spent 40 days and 40 nights alone on Mount Sinai before receiving the 10 commandments from God, and Buddha meditated for 49 days under a Bodhi tree before reaching enlightenment.
    Hannah Towey, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Waking up before sunrise; meditating daily.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • When contemplating the future of Bloom Ranch, Releford leans on the wisdom of the land.
    Martine Thompson, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
  • That could eviscerate Anthropic’s growth—just as the company, which is currently valued at $380 billion, has been seeing significant commercial traction and is contemplating an initial public offering as soon as next year.
    Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 26 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Stepping back from the noise, the news, and even our daily responsibilities from time to time gives us space to recharge, reflect, and find our center again.
    Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Feb. 2026
  • The rooms Each of the 11 rooms and two suites is individually decorated, some in bold blues and whites, to reflect the ocean beyond, with elegant colonial-style furnishings that mirror the origins of its founding English owners.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • But that risks projecting the weakness Tehran is so allergic to.
    Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 1 Mar. 2026
  • In more bad tidings, the trustees reported that a crucial Medicare trust fund will face a shortfall in 2033, three years earlier than projected a year ago.
    Medora Lee, USA Today, 28 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Muse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muse. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.

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