as in melancholy
given to or marked by long, quiet thinking
rainy days often put her in a pensive mood
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pensive
In such an intimate, pensive atmosphere, characters emerge gradually out of the rugged landscape like windswept trees or weathered stones.
—
Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025
Please submit your answers via old-timey telegraphs — and an expansion of his thematic preoccupations, The Phoenician Scheme finds our man Wes in a somewhat pensive mood.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 May 2025
His subtle direction also basks in critical moments of silence: a smoke break outside the classroom, the frustrated focus during an exam, and the pensive, haunting opening and closing image of Marjan looking out through semi-transparent curtains.
—Christian Lewis, Variety, 24 Jan. 2025
The fragrance’s marine notes set a new olfactive trend, and its campaign fronted by a pensive Larry Paul Scott became iconic.
—Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for pensive
Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025
Please submit your answers via old-timey telegraphs — and an expansion of his thematic preoccupations, The Phoenician Scheme finds our man Wes in a somewhat pensive mood.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 May 2025
His subtle direction also basks in critical moments of silence: a smoke break outside the classroom, the frustrated focus during an exam, and the pensive, haunting opening and closing image of Marjan looking out through semi-transparent curtains.
—Christian Lewis, Variety, 24 Jan. 2025
The fragrance’s marine notes set a new olfactive trend, and its campaign fronted by a pensive Larry Paul Scott became iconic.
—Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for pensive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pensive
Adjective
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Some gags land, others don’t, and the script’s sudden bursts of melancholy dependably catch you in the gut.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
9 Sep. 2025
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The same can be said of Mescal, who’s already parlayed playing men of muscular physique and melancholy dispositions into above-the-title movie stardom.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Built between the late 17th century and early 18th century, the picturesque home has been restored by thoughtful architects who preserved the building’s rustic simplicity while ushering it into the modern era.—
Madeline Weinfield,
Architectural Digest,
17 Sep. 2025
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Housed in the former Town Hall, built in 1816, the museum offers a thoughtful overview of the region’s history.—
Madeline Weinfield,
Southern Living,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The only difference is that reflective tint is not allowed anywhere on the windshield and can't be more than 35% on the front and rear windows.—
Keenan Thompson,
Freep.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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Give that remark a sobering, reflective moment.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Her hobbies include lusting after them, dating them, hanging out at their beach house, contemplative night-swimming in their pool, and occasionally playing volleyball.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
11 Sep. 2025
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To retrain focus, Bovee also suggested distraction-free spaces, analog activities like journaling or reading print books, and contemplative practices like meditation.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The White House moved Thursday's 9/11 ceremony at the Pentagon into the courtyard, away from the 9/11 memorial where the somber ceremony has been held for decades, in light of Kirk's killing.—
Alexandra Hutzler,
ABC News,
11 Sep. 2025
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This was a somber visit, and the group was reverent, hushed.—
Jim Clash,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pensive. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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