as in contemplated
to give serious and careful thought to
I'm pondering whether or not I should join another committee
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Recent Examples of pondered
Jason briefly pondered Travis’ stats for games during his birthday week, but his younger brother wasn’t having it.
—
Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
Four Ball State players pondered it prior to the 2022 season.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
In her conversation with Interview, Peters pondered whether the next Great American Novelist could be trans.
—Grace Byron, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
National media and pundits pondered why a team would sell off Alan Pulido a year after signing him to a large extension and not commit to William Agada as the starter, as the two had somewhat similar chance and shot-creation numbers in 2024.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 6 Sep. 2025
Amid these non-Radiohead releases, fans have pondered Radiohead’s future, particularly after Yorke spoke to Australia’s Double J in October 2024 and addressed the speculation.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2025
Former Philadelphia Phillies star John Kruk pondered one of life’s biggest questions during the team’s game against the Seattle Mariners on Monday night.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 2025
While the sleuths pondered, other hotel guests dialed 911.
—Keith Sharon, Nashville Tennessean, 17 Aug. 2025
Thomas and Irish director Mark Cousins pondered over the state of the film industry during a 90-minute conversation, which also covered Harvey Weinstein, Harry Cohn and Thomas’ time spent with some of the biggest filmmakers in history.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 15 Aug. 2025
Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
Four Ball State players pondered it prior to the 2022 season.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
In her conversation with Interview, Peters pondered whether the next Great American Novelist could be trans.
—Grace Byron, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
National media and pundits pondered why a team would sell off Alan Pulido a year after signing him to a large extension and not commit to William Agada as the starter, as the two had somewhat similar chance and shot-creation numbers in 2024.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 6 Sep. 2025
Amid these non-Radiohead releases, fans have pondered Radiohead’s future, particularly after Yorke spoke to Australia’s Double J in October 2024 and addressed the speculation.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2025
Former Philadelphia Phillies star John Kruk pondered one of life’s biggest questions during the team’s game against the Seattle Mariners on Monday night.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 2025
While the sleuths pondered, other hotel guests dialed 911.
—Keith Sharon, Nashville Tennessean, 17 Aug. 2025
Thomas and Irish director Mark Cousins pondered over the state of the film industry during a 90-minute conversation, which also covered Harvey Weinstein, Harry Cohn and Thomas’ time spent with some of the biggest filmmakers in history.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pondered
Verb
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As Caproni has written several times, Flores signed a contract with the Dolphins that contemplated league arbitration.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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Duncan even contemplated mounting a third-party challenge to Trump as a No Labels candidate last year before withdrawing his name from consideration.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Even if a dissenting perspective isn’t correct or better, dissent brings different views to the fore so that they can be debated, and that improves and sharpens arguments, options and outcomes.—
Elizabeth Shackelford,
Twin Cities,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Ohio lawmakers have debated how to address higher property taxes since home values skyrocketed in recent years.—
Victoria Moorwood,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The city has also considered a three-year contract with GEST Golf Carts to shuttle people from further away parking lots.—
Victoria Moorwood,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Hurricanes Gabrielle and Humberto have formed over the ocean but are not considered threats to the United States.—
Alana Wise,
NPR,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Black nuclear families, like the one Cardi B (who is Afro-Latina) was part of for the past seven years, are actually on the rise, according to Christina Cross, a professor, researcher, and sociologist at Harvard University who has studied this subject extensively.—
Meagan Jordan,
Rolling Stone,
3 Oct. 2025
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These strategies – called selection sort and shaker sort – are typically studied in computer science.—
Celeste Kidd,
The Conversation,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
No amendments were entertained.—
Paul Egan,
Freep.com,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Unlike other game-day snacks like chips or popcorn, where flavors and textures can get a little one-note after a while, ALDI’s Cajun Trail Mix keeps your taste buds entertained with different flavors—salty, sweet, and spicy—and different textures, too.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The judge also questioned the authenticity of Combs’ claims of reform, pointing to his assault of Jane in June 2024.—
Nicki Brown,
CNN Money,
4 Oct. 2025
-
The proposition stems from a legal challenge that questioned Mayor Kevin Hartke’s and two predecessors’ mayoral terms.—
Maritza Dominguez,
AZCentral.com,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Hunt After years of diligent saving, a longtime renter with a $300,000 budget weighed whether to take his parents’ advice and return to his childhood building in Elmhurst, or branch out.—
Dan Levin,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The horns weighed more than 15 pounds collectively.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Mangold was developing the Star Wars movie, Dawn of the Jedi for Lucasfilm, which was to have explored the origins of the Force.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Sep. 2025
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But rarely, since Jokic rounded into MVP form, have the Nuggets explored lineups with two centers.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pondered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pondered. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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