as in melancholy
given to or marked by long, quiet thinking
he was clearly in a musing mood, and did not feel like talking just then
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Recent Examples of musing
Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
That’s one philosophical musing.
—Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY, 2 Oct. 2025
Here and nowhere else, Holland treats Kafka’s oeuvre not as abstract fodder for pithy musing, but as texts which were published at a real point in history, that came from the mind of a person and not a divine conduit.
—Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
The debate over whether algorithms can ever be truly impartial has been simmering for years; what’s new is the urgency to move from philosophical musing to enforceable standards.
—Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for musing
Noun
Reddit user u/TotalThing7 shared a nostalgic musing in the subreddit r/CasualConversation after watching a 1990s TV show.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
That’s one philosophical musing.
—Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY, 2 Oct. 2025
Here and nowhere else, Holland treats Kafka’s oeuvre not as abstract fodder for pithy musing, but as texts which were published at a real point in history, that came from the mind of a person and not a divine conduit.
—Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
The debate over whether algorithms can ever be truly impartial has been simmering for years; what’s new is the urgency to move from philosophical musing to enforceable standards.
—Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for musing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for musing
Adjective
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Also emotional, sometimes spirited, and other times melancholy are the songs, which Cotillard lip-synced.—
Darren Franich,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
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In a weirdly serendipitous bit of cinema news, Billie Eilish—queen of melancholy pop—is turning her sad eyes to Sylvia Plath.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The organization also hosts various classes including yoga, breath work, mindful meditation, mat Pilates and step aerobics at their studio, the WalkGood Yard, in Arlington Heights.—
Kailyn Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2026
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As well as hosting a range of species, many of the caves are used as shrines, or for meditation and other rituals, and are visited by tourists and pilgrims, according to the report.—
Amarachi Orie,
CNN Money,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The many years spent pondering and preparing for a potential attack on Iran are the reason that the first days of the war were, for the most part, a bravura display of American power.—
Franklin Foer,
The Atlantic,
11 Mar. 2026
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Anderson has been pondering it for a while.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Your chatter zone lights up as the life-giving Sun conjoins nebulous Neptune, blending insight with curiosity for thoughtful conversations and local plans.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Mar. 2026
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Connecticut residents expect thoughtful policymaking, transparency, and respect for civic participation.—
State Sen. Tony Hwang,
Hartford Courant,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Both of us have recently moved from denial to contemplation that AI will soon be in a position to replace us.—
J. Xavier Prochaska,
Mercury News,
18 Mar. 2026
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Tiffany approaches her projects with research and contemplation and then follows through with flawless details.—
Heide Janssen,
Oc Register,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The shooter appears to have been ruminating on the event since at least 2016, according to prosecutors at the time.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
13 Mar. 2026
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If your friend or family member is struggling to keep up with daily responsibilities, constantly ruminating about relationship issues, or expressing a sense of hopelessness, consider bringing it up, says Francesca Emma, a therapist in New York.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center plans to incorporate bird-friendly glass, a move aimed at reducing deadly collisions with reflective surfaces.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Mar. 2026
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The soft glow of lanterns against ancient mounds turns a seemingly simple walk into a reflective, cinematic journey through American history.—
Rafael Peña,
Miami Herald,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The fireplace, stone walls, and ambient lighting, paired with hand-cut steaks, homemade desserts, and Virginia wine pairings, lull diners into a pleasant reverie.—
Lydia Mansel,
Southern Living,
13 Mar. 2026
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His thoughts melt into a single reverie.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Musing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/musing. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
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