PONDERING Synonyms: 76 Similar and Opposite Words

pondering 1 of 2

noun

as in contemplation

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pondering

2 of 2

verb

present participle of ponder

as in contemplating

to give serious and careful thought to I'm pondering whether or not I should join another committee

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 pondering

Noun

All 50 years of craft, thought, thematic pondering — everything. — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 3 Jan. 2026

Verb

Lupoi isn’t a guy who spends his evenings pondering philosophy or splitting atoms. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026 Blumstein came up with the idea for the OnlyFans account while sitting in a meadow, waiting for marmots to appear and pondering the state of scientific funding for his work. — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026 But auto industry insiders are already pondering how original equipment manufacturers will react to this democratization of their data. — New Atlas, 2 Aug. 2026 Beyond pondering whether to cut Google off, other publishers have resorted to suing the company, accusing it of illegally rehashing their intellectual property via AI summaries. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 23 July 2026 After graduation, Coyne continued taking community college courses while pondering her next steps. — Kerry McDonald, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026 In a land that tends to believe bigger is better, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been pondering the World Cup’s future. — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 14 July 2026 Bravo is sipping its cuppa and pondering what to do about those interesting ladies across the pond. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 1 July 2026 Some viewers appear to enjoy seeing the princess in modern settings, pondering over what could have been if her life wasn't cut short. — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 1 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pondering

Noun

The gallery, which connects the Apollo Rotunda and the Salon Carré, will serve as a space for strolling and contemplation within the museum, according to the release.

— Megan Fahrney, ABC News, 22 July 2026
May talked about her gender but also what sounded like contemplations of self-harm.

— Jo Yurcaba, NBC news, 18 July 2026

Definition of contemplation

Verb

Despite this seemingly critical importance to the automaker at a time when its profit margins are evaporating, Tesla may be contemplating a future without China.

— Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 4 Aug. 2026
A number of sports media sites and fan blogs took that to mean the Kings were contemplating a buyout, generating stories about possible destinations and LaVine’s potential fit with other teams.

— Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of contemplating

Verb

Just a few years ago, finance leaders were still debating whether AI belonged in the finance function.

— Terrence McCrossan, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
While Congress continues debating whether to make daylight saving time permanent or end seasonal clock changes altogether, no change has become law.

— Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 31 July 2026

Definition of debating

Noun

First Fridays may bring a night market; meditation and healing circles happen in a back room, with Indigenous practices led by Indigenous people.

— Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
This water therapy experience is offered at Habitas Bacalar, a boutique lagoonside hotel, merging gentle over- and underwater movement and aquatic meditation under the guidance of a shamanic aquatherapist.

— Rana Good, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of meditation

Verb

The two weren’t mentioned in the announcement, or in the royal family’s congratulatory post, and the entire British royal family has gone out of its way to separate itself from Andrew and Fergie, considering their recent scandals.

— Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 6 Aug. 2026
Focusing only on what goes out the door — without considering what came in — paints an incomplete picture.

— Zev Fima, CNBC, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of considering

Noun

Wilson’s review was written without much consideration for what movies do differently from their source material.

— Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2026
This indicates a new phase in how higher education manages free speech, driven by practical considerations rather than just philosophy.

— Scott White, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of consideration

Verb

Serlie and colleagues are now studying determinants of weight loss success after bariatric surgery.

— Crystal Gwizdala, Hartford Courant, 1 Aug. 2026
Talking of research, Rossignol has done some of his own, studying exactly how far in advance of the keynote Apple announces the date.

— David Phelan, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of studying

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pondered

pondering

ponderous

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“Pondering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pondering. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of pondering

noun

verb

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