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
With a juicy contract from a top publisher in hand, Oliver travels with the couple to a seaside mansion where his muse, singer and actress Margot Bell (Aja Alcazar), is due to perform in a concert opposite Victor Pratt (Andrés Enriquez), self-described as Broadway’s favorite baritone. Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026 She was thrilled to finally see the trailer come out last year and know that Ginger was a muse. Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 16 Apr. 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
  • The photograph documents the group, contributing to the historical record—these poets were there, those not, some are forgotten now.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Inspired by a short story from Welsh poet and author Dylan Thomas, the film is said to follow a young boy sent to spend one summer with his charismatic and wildly eccentric grandfather on a remote Welsh farm.
    Zac Ntim, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Marin directed some of his ire at Esalen, the epicenter of the Human Potential Movement and the playground, its critics scoffed, of those privileged enough to spend their days ruminating over the self.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Ricky Gervais will be in attendance to give a masterclass as creator and director of Netflix’s Alley Cats, the adult animation following a group of feral cats who seek companionship while ruminating on everyday life, accompanied by a sneak peek of the first two episodes.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Many early cartoon characters, including Mickey Mouse, had been modeled after blackface minstrel characters.
    Jared Bahir Browsh, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2026
  • The Black characters that appeared on-screen closely resembled the clownish stereotypes popularized by the minstrels.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • As Jeff Sanders wrote (here) on Thursday, the Padres are pondering a lot of different ways to deal with their starting pitching situation in the coming weeks.
    Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026
  • Graham may have finally assumed her rightful place in the newspaper-movie canon, but we’re still left to ponder her absence from the most iconic journalism movie of the 20th century.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Verb
  • By focusing the mind on thoughts and feelings, a meditating person begins to unlearn conventional perspectives and mental attitudes that are the root of suffering.
    Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Inside the space, visitors meditate, drink tea, and color.
    Monique John, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Here was a more congenial setting for contemplating liberty than Paris or Port-au-Prince.
    Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
  • The Louisiana case is more likely to have an impact in other states that may be contemplating redistricting.
    Jack Fink, CBS News, 3 May 2026
Verb
  • Yet its release may reflect a bid by European officials to seize upon a hope that critics have argued has long been their sole strategy to defeat Russia in Ukraine – to wait for its internal collapse.
    Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
  • While the underlying value is tied to the global spot price of gold, coins are sold at a premium that reflects minting costs, distribution, and dealer margins.
    Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 4 May 2026
Verb
  • Over the coming two decades, baby boomers and older generations are projected to transfer around $84 trillion to younger heirs and charitable causes by 2045.
    Ed Smith-Lewis, Fortune, 2 May 2026
  • The demonstration on Friday, with a heat index projected to hit 100 degrees, kicked off Miami-Dade’s heat season, which now arrives earlier, lasts longer and is more intense because of climate change.
    Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 2 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Muse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muse. Accessed 6 May. 2026.

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