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
Some teachers and staff were concerned about losing their doctors when DPS pondered ending its 52 year relationship with Kaiser Permanente.
—
Jesse Sarles, CBS News, 21 Feb. 2026
Moe pondered this for half a second.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026
The Royals pondered whether to non-tender India this offseason.
—Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2026
Bailey started to consider a return to college basketball in 2025 but has pondered a possible return to the NCAA after he was drafted in 2023, according to the report.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Paul pondered in the latest episode what the Lakers could do to remake their roster and suggested using popular guard Austin Reaves in a potential trade.
—Jason Jones, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Advertisement China has long pondered surgical strikes against Taiwan’s leadership, though any such move is likely to be self-defeating, given the island is a sustained democracy.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 5 Jan. 2026
Early in their planning for the trip to Alaska, the couple pondered taking a cruise.
—Madison Beveridge, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Dec. 2025
Back in the Baros’ room, the family pondered who would give Drew his first cookie someday.
—Mindy Schauer, Oc Register, 4 Dec. 2025
Jesse Sarles, CBS News, 21 Feb. 2026
Moe pondered this for half a second.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026
The Royals pondered whether to non-tender India this offseason.
—Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2026
Bailey started to consider a return to college basketball in 2025 but has pondered a possible return to the NCAA after he was drafted in 2023, according to the report.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Paul pondered in the latest episode what the Lakers could do to remake their roster and suggested using popular guard Austin Reaves in a potential trade.
—Jason Jones, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Advertisement China has long pondered surgical strikes against Taiwan’s leadership, though any such move is likely to be self-defeating, given the island is a sustained democracy.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 5 Jan. 2026
Early in their planning for the trip to Alaska, the couple pondered taking a cruise.
—Madison Beveridge, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Dec. 2025
Back in the Baros’ room, the family pondered who would give Drew his first cookie someday.
—Mindy Schauer, Oc Register, 4 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pondered
Verb
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Nvidia's $30 billion investment in OpenAI is different from what was contemplated in September, but the company could still decide to invest in subsequent rounds that align with that framework, the person said.—
Ashley Capoot,
CNBC,
20 Feb. 2026
-
But Kelce has contemplated retirement several years in a row, and innumerable off-field opportunities await the charismatic fiancé of Taylor Swift.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Supreme Court will take up an effort by local governments to go after big oil and gas companies like Exxon Mobil and Suncor for harms caused by climate change, a question that has been debated in state courts across the country for years.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Texas lawmakers have debated ending the time change.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Over the last several years, changes in the law and an evolving approach regarding youth offenders cleared the way for Williams to ask to have his sentence vacated on the grounds that it could be considered de facto life without parole.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The classified documents case was once considered the most serious of the four criminal cases against him.—
ALANNA DURKIN RICHER,
Arkansas Online,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The mom was born in the United States but studied abroad and received her master’s degree in Ukraine, making new friends and reconnecting with relatives during that time.—
Angie Leventis Lourgos,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Feb. 2026
-
But even though they have been studied for thousands of years, mathematicians still have some basic questions about them left unanswered.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This viral anti-slip slow feeder lick bowl helps prevent gulping and bloating, while keeping your dogs entertained for longer with a healthy, fun challenge.—
Kasey Caminiti,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The actor's Club Cumming was seriously entertained one night with the help of some high-profile guests.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Porter, 52, threatened to walk out when questioned about appealing to Republican voters.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Critics have questioned the true purpose of the new division, given that the department already prosecutes fraud through its Criminal Division.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Bitcoin dipped below $65,000 on Monday as investors weighed mounting tariff uncertainties and geopolitical concerns.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Customers' containers are weighed first, then filled.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Even today, geologists describe it as under-explored.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Feb. 2026
-
This is the question explored in The War Room, which examines Bill Clinton's presidential bid via the proxies of James Carville and George Stephanopoulos, who ran his campaign and engineered its success in an outsized way.—
Eric Farwell,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pondered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pondered. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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