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
Many pondered what McDavid, many who believe is the NHL’s best player, would do.
—
Greg Liodice, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
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
Greg Liodice, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pondered
Verb
-
Judge Stanley Blumenfeld agreed to extend the trial date, originally contemplated for next August, to October 2026.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
9 Oct. 2025
-
This has been long-contemplated in American literature.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Over multiple video updates, Tawes debated on what to do with the stray.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
-
The really repressive power of the state to stop alternative ideas from coming into circulation, from being debated and from having the chance to build their case.—
Pamela Avila,
USA Today,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Eliminating the Phillies — a team some analysts considered the best in baseball — elevated the Dodgers from +200 to +120 odds.—
Scott Phillips,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Under California law, the relatives are considered victims of the 1989 crime and had the right to share statements with the board.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Rhoden and her colleagues studied how the eccentricity could have changed to recreate what is seen at Mimas today.—
Nola Taylor Tillman,
Space.com,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Yet, despite this thorough materialism, the survival of Lucretius’ poem depends entirely on two manuscripts copied out in the Carolingian period, and one of them was certainly at the royal court, where it was studied and annotated by the Irish scholar Dungal.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Will people be able to go watch Man of Tomorrow without watching Peacemaker or even Superman, and be thoroughly entertained?—
Peter White,
Deadline,
10 Oct. 2025
-
For those who want to be entertained during brew time, look no further than this borosilicate glass London Sip espresso maker with a stainless steel base.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
His lawyers also said prosecutors should be prevented from using his statements to law enforcement officers at trial, arguing that Mangione wasn’t read his Miranda rights at a McDonald’s before being questioned.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
11 Oct. 2025
-
The young woman questioned his certainty.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The fossils show that the hadrosaur likely grew to be more than 35 feet long and weighed as much as 9 tons, according to the release.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
9 Oct. 2025
-
The mist too weighed upon me heavily, making my lungs feel sodden and congested.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Cory and Topanga ultimately married, and their family life was explored across the three seasons of Girl Meets World, with Fishel and Savage reprising their roles.—
Kate Hogan,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
-
While some diseases, like seasonal allergies, asthma, and autoimmune diseases, are known to cause eosinophilia, or an abnormally high number of these cells, the role of eosinophilia in chronic pain hasn’t been well explored.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pondered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pondered. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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