1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

philosophize

verb

Definition of philosophizenext
as in to think

Related Words

Relevance

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 philosophize The final part is a rather rambling segment philosophizing on proof of the afterlife—in line with dozens of similar texts from this era of psychical research. — Alice Vernon september 8, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025 Importantly for our purposes here, Hammel’s character Karla has long been out and mostly likes to armchair-philosophize and make dry quips about Fire Island; amid a sea of earnest trans characters who go on emotional Journeys™, thank Christ for that. — Samantha Allen, Them., 22 Aug. 2025 Not that The End of an Era is equipped to philosophize, or particularly interested in philosophizing, about pop stardom on that level. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019 None other than Leonardo DaVinci and Archimedes are said to have spent more than a lunch hour pondering and philosophizing about the underlying causes of annual variation in mast production. — Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 17 Apr. 2015 See All Example Sentences for philosophize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for philosophize
  1. think
  2. contemplate
  3. rationalize
  4. interpret
  5. read
  6. construe
Verb
  • Even if the relationship isn’t fake, something about Bronwyn’s newfound fame (or, rather, adjacency to fame by way of Lisa Barlow) may have altered her brain chemistry into thinking this is a normal way to navigate and present a new relationship.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The mistake is thinking the key is the same thing as ownership.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of think
Verb
  • As shareholders contemplate which side to back in the ongoing vote, the only thing clear at this point is that the friendship between Garg and Lewis is officially lost, according to both parties.
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026
  • With local cops, plagued by rumors of departmental misdeeds, looking for a peaceful solution and federal authorities contemplating extreme action, the situation escalates.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of contemplate
Verb
  • Ahmed doesn’t merely document the decisions that led President Biden and his aides to arm and rationalize what leading human rights organizations and legal scholars now consider a genocide.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
  • This penchant for rationalizing violence--even deadly violence--extends beyond the murder of Kirk.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of rationalize
Verb
  • The new study adds another potential health concern, but the researchers themselves caution against interpreting the results as proof of causation.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2026
  • The decision establishing the fund is very clear that contributions are voluntary and the act of contributing should not be interpreted as an acknowledgment of liability.
    — Tarun Gopalakrishnan, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of interpret
Verb
  • That, even if someone else read the words, perhaps some part of it could be withheld, could be sheltered.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
  • After reading the script, watching the documentary, and meeting Peedom, Hiddleston signed up for the project, which led him to climb to Everest’s base camp alongside the director, Phuntsok, and a high-altitude medical specialist.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of read
Verb
  • For instance, if those involved in the sponsorship/endorsement transactions schemed to distort their actual purpose, that type of activity could be construed as money laundering.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Still others have construed Clancy’s story as evidence for their own niche political beliefs.
    — Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of construe

Browse Nearby Words

philosophies
philosophize
philosophized
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Philosophize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/philosophize. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of tactile

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 25
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of the words cracker fly and sale arranged in a triangle with the word fire in the middle
Triple Play Quiz Find the word that pairs with each of the three g...
See All