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
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
Manager Dave Roberts is pondering whether to take measures to limit opportunities for the sequence, as the Dodgers manage Ohtani’s two-way ability over the course of a full season for the first time.
—Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
But news is expected soon on the Hall of Fame KU coach, who is pondering his future after having heart problems the past few years.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
As new signs of a rift emerge in Western alliances, Putin and his generals are pondering plans for the spring and summer campaign across more than the 1,200-kilometer (about 750-mile) front line.
—ABC News, 20 Mar. 2026
The many years spent pondering and preparing for a potential attack on Iran are the reason that the first days of the war were, for the most part, a bravura display of American power.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
The White House is still pondering what regulatory action to take.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 4 Mar. 2026
Noun
All 50 years of craft, thought, thematic pondering — everything.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 3 Jan. 2026
Verb
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
Manager Dave Roberts is pondering whether to take measures to limit opportunities for the sequence, as the Dodgers manage Ohtani’s two-way ability over the course of a full season for the first time.
—Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
But news is expected soon on the Hall of Fame KU coach, who is pondering his future after having heart problems the past few years.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
As new signs of a rift emerge in Western alliances, Putin and his generals are pondering plans for the spring and summer campaign across more than the 1,200-kilometer (about 750-mile) front line.
—ABC News, 20 Mar. 2026
The many years spent pondering and preparing for a potential attack on Iran are the reason that the first days of the war were, for the most part, a bravura display of American power.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
The White House is still pondering what regulatory action to take.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pondering
Noun
-
The North Carolina folk-rock band’s quiet and rambling third album exists in a cloud of dreamy contemplation.—
Jayson Greene,
Pitchfork,
1 Apr. 2026
-
July 23 – August 22 Money choices benefit from thoughtful contemplation.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Soaring gas prices would appear to have many Americans contemplating if now might be the time to add an EV, or possibly another, to the family fleet.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
7 Apr. 2026
-
After staring down 30, experiencing a career lull, and contemplating quitting music altogether, the singer staked her future in the industry on the fate of her fourth record.—
Harry Tafoya,
Pitchfork,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Warrior Mars in your sign fires up thoughts about your identity — and simultaneously heightens your initiative.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The prevailing thought was not concern, not the slightest bit of panic.—
Doug Ferguson,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Now lawmakers are eyeing more regulations and debating how to balance both the state’s clean energy goals with the economic benefits data centers bring.—
Jessica Hill,
Fortune,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Buc-ee’s customers are debating a new policy requiring card payments at the pump.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Breathwork, meditation practices and strategies that reduce fight-or-flight activation have been shown to support neuroplasticity, improve cognitive flexibility and enhance memory and concentration.—
Elan Gepner-Dales,
Rolling Stone,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Studies have shown that meditation can help lower blood pressure, boost immunity, improve sleep, and slow memory loss.—
Kris Slugg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Those that may be considering a merger, or those involved in consolidation or more complex ownership and governance arrangements should take note of these changes and seek the guidance of qualified counsel.—
Evonne Andris,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The parties involved in the deal have since been looking for ways to move forward with the sale, including considering plans to add a Chinese investor to the consortium.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The pool is kept intentionally small, with just 12 to 16 proposals from 10 to 12 artists up for consideration each year.—
Niyaz Pirani,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Whether whole, ground, or made into oil, each form of flaxseed brings unique advantages and considerations.—
Kirsten Nunez,
Martha Stewart,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Zach is hunched over a bowl of fruit-adjacent cereal studying a Calvin and Hobbes book lying open on the counter.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Apr. 2026
-
RevMed expects to share data this quarter from a Phase 3 trial studying its pill versus chemotherapy in people whose cancer has spread and who have already tried one other treatment.—
Angelica Peebles,
CNBC,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pondering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pondering. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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