as in contemplation
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as in contemplating
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 pondering
Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 3 Jan. 2026
Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 May 2026
As Jeff Sanders wrote (here) on Thursday, the Padres are pondering a lot of different ways to deal with their starting pitching situation in the coming weeks.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026
The two-term governor, who is seeking a third term in November while pondering a potential 2028 White House bid, is viewed favorably by 68% of Chicagoans and unfavorably by 20%.
—Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Gary Thuerk, of the Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), was pondering how to advertise upcoming demonstrations in California of his company’s latest computers.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026
Children’s Hospital Colorado suspended those services in January; that decision was upheld by a state judge, but the Colorado Supreme Court is pondering whether to order the services to resume.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
The medical drama's season 2 finale ended on a cliffhanger Thursday, April 16, with Wyle's character pondering a three-month sabbatical and a motorcycle ride across the country.
—Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
And while that tie will be one many neutrals will enjoy and look forward to, Real Madrid will be left spending the final weeks before the season ends pondering what needs to change to reign across Europe for an unprecedented 16th time.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2026
With the war in Iran creating a shortage of the fuel and fertilizer that farmers across Asia need to plant and harvest rice, many smallholders are seeking alternative supplies or pondering whether to plant at all.
—Yang Yang, Bloomberg, 14 Apr. 2026
Noun
All 50 years of craft, thought, thematic pondering — everything.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 3 Jan. 2026
Verb
The sequence left us pondering our pet cats and, for good measure, our worst selves.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 May 2026
As Jeff Sanders wrote (here) on Thursday, the Padres are pondering a lot of different ways to deal with their starting pitching situation in the coming weeks.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026
The two-term governor, who is seeking a third term in November while pondering a potential 2028 White House bid, is viewed favorably by 68% of Chicagoans and unfavorably by 20%.
—Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Gary Thuerk, of the Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), was pondering how to advertise upcoming demonstrations in California of his company’s latest computers.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026
Children’s Hospital Colorado suspended those services in January; that decision was upheld by a state judge, but the Colorado Supreme Court is pondering whether to order the services to resume.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
The medical drama's season 2 finale ended on a cliffhanger Thursday, April 16, with Wyle's character pondering a three-month sabbatical and a motorcycle ride across the country.
—Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
And while that tie will be one many neutrals will enjoy and look forward to, Real Madrid will be left spending the final weeks before the season ends pondering what needs to change to reign across Europe for an unprecedented 16th time.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2026
With the war in Iran creating a shortage of the fuel and fertilizer that farmers across Asia need to plant and harvest rice, many smallholders are seeking alternative supplies or pondering whether to plant at all.
—Yang Yang, Bloomberg, 14 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pondering
Noun
-
Gold can be one option worth serious contemplation right now.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
5 May 2026
-
Art beckons at Rothko Chapel and The Menil Collection, quiet sanctuaries where light, color, and contemplation merge.—
Carrie Honaker,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
But even among the anchors that aren’t contemplating leaving TV for YouTube, the attraction of digital media is too irresistible to ignore.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
6 May 2026
-
Or, put another way, savers contemplating a $15,000 deposit into this account now can expect to earn a little more than $1 per week on their funds over the next year.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
Noun
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In Islamic thought, wealth is understood as a trust from God, to be handled with care and never mistaken for proof of divine endorsement.—
Boutayna Chokrane,
Pitchfork,
7 May 2026
-
Jerry Seinfeld is offering his thoughts on Friends — not that there’s anything wrong with that.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
7 May 2026
Verb
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But debating such topics is the lifeblood of the draft, which manufactures would-be experts for the kind of second-guessing that helps fuel rampant and often inaccurate speculation.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
1 May 2026
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While Shug’s Bagels owner and founder Justin Shugrue is originally from New York, don't waste your time debating whether or not Shug's makes New York-style bagels.—
Nathanael Gassett,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Studies have shown that meditation can help lower blood pressure, boost immunity, improve sleep, and slow memory loss.—
Kris Slugg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 May 2026
-
Over the course of the day and evening, old secrets, resentments, and regrets bubble up to the surface and Altman crafts a devastating meditation on memory, identity, and the necessity as well as the danger of a vivid fantasy life.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
1 May 2026
Verb
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The court is considering an appeal of a lower-court judge’s ruling that the amendment is invalid because lawmakers violated procedural requirements.—
Eric Tucker,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
-
California lawmakers are considering a bill that would ensure insurance companies cover the cost of scalp cooling technology for cancer patients.—
Sooji Nam,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
Noun
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Reliever Trevor Richards reported for duty for the Chicago White Sox on Friday, three days after he was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies for cash considerations.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
The Mustangs’ 200 free relay of Chloe Wool-Smith, Pang, Karolina Sangasy and Mia Walker clocked a consideration time for the CIF State meet next week.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Then again, the protagonist might be Hannes (Enzo Brumm), a former farm boy studying at the same school in 1972.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
-
Thorsen helped lead research for the CDC studying infant disabilities, according to prosecutors.—
Sasha Pezenik,
ABC News,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pondering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pondering. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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