as in melancholy
given to or marked by long, quiet thinking
rainy days often put her in a pensive mood
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Recent Examples of pensive
The music is an odd blend of classic podcast atmospherics—pensive follow-along vibes, a little jazz, guitar-rock blasts to rev up the narrative awe—that somehow hangs together fine.
—
Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 12 May 2025
The hotel’s 134 rooms run the gamut from pensive perches over the canal to positively palatial Houses, of which there are five in total.
—Nicole Trilivas, Travel + Leisure, 8 May 2025
This track probably won’t be the most floor-filling moment at one of Bicep’s coveted Chroma shows, but instead is prime material for the more pensive moments at the party.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 18 Apr. 2025
Driven by a longing to find her mother (Emily Watson), who fled the family years earlier, the pensive, ever-watchful girl runs away.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pensive
Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 12 May 2025
The hotel’s 134 rooms run the gamut from pensive perches over the canal to positively palatial Houses, of which there are five in total.
—Nicole Trilivas, Travel + Leisure, 8 May 2025
This track probably won’t be the most floor-filling moment at one of Bicep’s coveted Chroma shows, but instead is prime material for the more pensive moments at the party.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 18 Apr. 2025
Driven by a longing to find her mother (Emily Watson), who fled the family years earlier, the pensive, ever-watchful girl runs away.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pensive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pensive
Adjective
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Feisty, single, and prone to melancholy, Agathe works in Paris’ legendary Shakespeare and Company bookstore.—
Peter Rainer,
Christian Science Monitor,
21 May 2025
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Part of this is undoubtedly the work of director Dean Fleischer Camp, who is best known for directing the equally charming and melancholy Marcel the Shell With Shoes On.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
20 May 2025
Adjective
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The clean ingredients and thoughtful composition show that Dossier put real care into creating something special.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
30 May 2025
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Springsteen has never shied away from holding up a thoughtful mirror reflecting the state of our nation.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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The actress goes on to stay that specific moment is reflective of why their relationship flourishes.—
Raven Brunner,
People.com,
31 May 2025
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These many watering holes are reflective of the Lone Star state's varied geographic regions, from bald cypress swamps to mountainous desert lakes.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
31 May 2025
Adjective
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At The Donum Estate, Oracle has found not just a physical home, but a spiritual one—a place where Biggers’ layered histories, material choices, and contemplative intentions converge into a singular, powerful experience.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
28 May 2025
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This stimulates your mind in a serious, contemplative way.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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Plus, the combination of the stone fireplace and the dark wood cabinets and shelves flanking it contributed to the overall impression of a somber, too-serious space.—
Meghan Holloran,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 May 2025
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Trump will participate in the traditional wreath-laying ceremony and speak at the cemetery’s amphitheater, in what has been a somber occasion for U.S. presidents.—
Orlando Sentinel Staff,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pensive. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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