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
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
Leaders and others in these communities have often spoken out against violence as a solution, while warning that pondering existential and nightmarish scenarios can overwhelm and destabilize vulnerable people.
—St. John Barned-Smith, San Francisco Chronicle, 12 Apr. 2026
And maybe one of those records was… The bard of New England dares to get meaningful on this two-part song, which begins by pondering the mysteries of time and ends with a singalong ode to seasonal renewal.
—Brett Milano, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
Distracted ends with Bruner fretting over money and pondering options.
—Will Hermes, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2026
Ganesh’s character has also spent a good amount of time this season pondering the next steps in her medical career after her plans to move back to her home state of New Jersey were disrupted.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2026
Noun
All 50 years of craft, thought, thematic pondering — everything.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 3 Jan. 2026
Verb
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
Leaders and others in these communities have often spoken out against violence as a solution, while warning that pondering existential and nightmarish scenarios can overwhelm and destabilize vulnerable people.
—St. John Barned-Smith, San Francisco Chronicle, 12 Apr. 2026
And maybe one of those records was… The bard of New England dares to get meaningful on this two-part song, which begins by pondering the mysteries of time and ends with a singalong ode to seasonal renewal.
—Brett Milano, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
Distracted ends with Bruner fretting over money and pondering options.
—Will Hermes, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2026
Ganesh’s character has also spent a good amount of time this season pondering the next steps in her medical career after her plans to move back to her home state of New Jersey were disrupted.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pondering
Noun
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True to its intent, this restaurant is indeed a calm yet joy-evoking space for quiet contemplation.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
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The resulting home is a small architectural gem, as well as a contemplation on writing.—
Ludovica Stevan,
Architectural Digest,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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His trip to Old Trafford for the Leeds United match will have left him contemplating the more difficult decisions ahead.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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Stafford is at the far end of his career, Jimmy Garoppolo is a free agent contemplating retirement, and fourth-year pro Stetson Bennett has not played in a regular-season game.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
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United will still need to raise funds through sales and Manuel Ugarte is prominent in thoughts.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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The films below offer up thought-provoking answers, but not all of them are bullish on humanity’s chances.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Idaho lawmakers spent hours debating a surge in rodents menacing Boise-area gardens and kitchens and threatening agriculture and public health.—
Karin Brulliard,
Washington Post,
25 Apr. 2026
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The hoods might just as well evoke the garb of Christian monks debating whether the soul is distinct from the body.—
Dawn Chan,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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And the paintings began, in part, as a meditation on erasure—a rebuke, of sorts, to a digital regime that had abandoned writing’s tactility.—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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The 3,000-square-foot Surya Spa is centered around Ayurvedic principles, with therapeutic massage, steam and oil treatments, yoga, meditation, and personalized programs available.—
Patricia Doherty,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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City are also considering other options, while Real Madrid have been touted as a possible destination for Rodri too.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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Florida, for instance, is set to hold a special session next week that will include considering mid-decade redistricting.—
Oren Oppenheim,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Cubs acquired Lopez from the Rockies for cash considerations Thursday.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
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The proposal remains under consideration by the prime minister, who has expressed reservations regarding its overall magnitude.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Limon was studying geography, environmental science and policy, and Bristy is studying chemical engineering.—
Claudia Lauer,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
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Show more Yazbek is studying medicine and is living with her family among strangers in the refugee camp, trying to study on her iPad while kids play tag in the halls.—
NBC News,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pondering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pondering. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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