1
as in unsettled
not yet settled or decided
a decision is pending about whether to buy computers or sports equipment with this money
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in upcoming
being soon to appear or take place
a pending review of your work so far this term
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in impending
giving signs of immediate occurrence
the sky darkened with a pending storm
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pending
Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 24 Mar. 2026
Bretches is one of the four officers whose cases remain pending.
—Tony Plohetski, Austin American Statesman, 19 Mar. 2026
Jo Yurcaba, NBC News, 16 Nov. 2022
Since Sorokin is currently in Immigration and Enforcement custody pending deportation, the video interview happened in fits and starts because Cooper and Sorokin had to keep reconnecting on the phone when time was up.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN, 17 Mar. 2022
See All Example Sentences for pending
Adjective
There are at least three more pending investigations that are still outstanding, according to OSHA’s website, and Boring Company is currently contesting eight citations it was issued regarding chemical burns in 2024.
—Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 24 Mar. 2026
Bretches is one of the four officers whose cases remain pending.
—Tony Plohetski, Austin American Statesman, 19 Mar. 2026
Preposition
Judges have blocked Alabama's and Arkansas' measures from taking effect pending litigation.
—Jo Yurcaba, NBC News, 16 Nov. 2022
Since Sorokin is currently in Immigration and Enforcement custody pending deportation, the video interview happened in fits and starts because Cooper and Sorokin had to keep reconnecting on the phone when time was up.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN, 17 Mar. 2022
See All Example Sentences for pending
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pending
Adjective
-
Saturday will be the more unsettled weather day.—
Steven Sosna,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
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Among those who have chosen a candidate, incumbent Mayor Karen Bass leads with 25%, followed by Pratt at 11%, and Raman at 9%, underscoring just how unsettled the race remains.—
Barnini Chakraborty,
The Washington Examiner,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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The late Top Gun actor Val Kilmer is soon set to appear in the upcoming historical action-adventure film As Deep as the Grave, with AI being used to recreate the actor, who had been cast in the movie before his death.—
Will McCurdy,
PC Magazine,
3 May 2026
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For more official resources, California county election offices consolidates information about upcoming elections on their websites.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
3 May 2026
Adjective
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The impending end of the Colbert era was weighing on them all.—
Mark Yarm,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Though signs of its impending closure were all around this past weekend, the New Black Wall Street Market was having one last hurrah.—
Zachary Hansen,
AJC.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Preposition
-
Charlie Kirk took off as a meme shortly after he was killed, last September, during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
-
In the race to fill the Council seat for District 3 — which includes the West Village, Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen — Mamdani backed Boylan, a fellow Democratic Socialists of America member and an ally during his mayoral campaign against Andrew Cuomo.—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
On the night of the première, with my forty-five-minute interview scheduled for the following morning, the negotiation remained unresolved.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
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The longer answer is that there are pages and pages of old FBI records, unresolved cases, eyewitness interviews, and the usual grainy, black-and-white images that show dots but nothing remotely conclusive about aliens, alien spaceships, or any alien technology.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
Summer is fast approaching, with warm temperatures expected to hit Washington DC and make for a sticky and humid start to the season, a familiar reality for residents across the DMV.—
Mike Stunson,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
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Colorado’s first open race for governor in eight years is fast approaching, and The Denver Post wants your questions for the candidates.—
Jon Murray,
Denver Post,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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However, with Lindor out for an undetermined but likely significant period of time, the Mets’ next-best shot is for Bo Bichette to go off.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
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An undetermined number of geofence warrants Just how many geofence warrants have been issued in recent years is unknown.—
Nina Totenberg,
NPR,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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One of the most powerful El Niño events ever recorded could form in the coming months, according to new forecasts, raising concerns about global temperatures, hurricanes, drought conditions and other extremes this year.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
6 May 2026
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But the law does allow people who believe local governments are violating the law to sue, which could present challenges in coming years.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
5 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pending. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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