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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as in contemplation
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Recent Examples of pondering
Paul Taylor, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
That’s 16 days of public silence and private plotting — 16 days of preparing for a case management conference and pondering motions and strategizing for the discovery process and delving into every facet of this year-long case that has no end in sight.
—Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2025
In the book, Keaton reflected on modern standards of beauty, pondering the societal obsession with how things look.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2025
This includes watching the sketches Stiller & Meara performed on countless talk shows, critiquing their respective styles and pondering how much or little from their seemingly candid appearances and interviews was meant to be taken as truth and not performance.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2025
Over a mashup of fiddles and guitars, Tod and Jennings blend their rough-hewn voices on a song about consequences for older vices and choices, pondering when the consequences of those actions outweigh the vices themselves.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 29 Sep. 2025
Leonardo DiCaprio has longtime fans pondering if a former teen heartthrob by any other name is still just as famous.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2025
Figuring out how to manage and reduce stress is always a question worth pondering.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 17 Sep. 2025
Brendan McDermid | Reuters After Swedish payments group Klarna’s $17 billion initial public offering, investors are pondering which big fintech name will be the next to go public.
—Ryan Browne, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
The Forest owner has been pondering his options That is not unusual — the Greek shipping magnate always likes to have a plan B in place.
—Paul Taylor, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
That’s 16 days of public silence and private plotting — 16 days of preparing for a case management conference and pondering motions and strategizing for the discovery process and delving into every facet of this year-long case that has no end in sight.
—Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2025
In the book, Keaton reflected on modern standards of beauty, pondering the societal obsession with how things look.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2025
This includes watching the sketches Stiller & Meara performed on countless talk shows, critiquing their respective styles and pondering how much or little from their seemingly candid appearances and interviews was meant to be taken as truth and not performance.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2025
Over a mashup of fiddles and guitars, Tod and Jennings blend their rough-hewn voices on a song about consequences for older vices and choices, pondering when the consequences of those actions outweigh the vices themselves.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 29 Sep. 2025
Leonardo DiCaprio has longtime fans pondering if a former teen heartthrob by any other name is still just as famous.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2025
Figuring out how to manage and reduce stress is always a question worth pondering.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 17 Sep. 2025
Brendan McDermid | Reuters After Swedish payments group Klarna’s $17 billion initial public offering, investors are pondering which big fintech name will be the next to go public.
—Ryan Browne, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pondering
Verb
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But the old flivver was ticking along, reminding Drew of happy hours—leaning on opposing fenders under its hood with Lloyd, contemplating the Dart’s latest ailment.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Oct. 2025
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Again, no more than one or two managers in every league should be contemplating late-season schedules and playoff matchups.—
Andy Behrens,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Also, of course, I am handicapped by knowing that this couldn’t be printed in the foreseeable future, and by the fact that contemplation of this material has become painful.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Oct. 2025
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The exhibitions, abstract by design, are an invitation to contemplation.—
Diana Hubbell,
Saveur,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Qerim won a lot of respect, including from ESPN staffers, with her knack for calmly reining in Smith and the voluble personalities debating him.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
16 Oct. 2025
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Kirk, who would have turned 32 on Tuesday, was assassinated at Utah Valley University while debating college students.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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To put a cap on preseason and training camp and to prepare for what’s ahead, here are my predictions and thoughts on how the Knicks will handle their depth chart and rotation heading into the season.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
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As the players performed snow angels in the confetti on the Levi’s Stadium field, the prevailing thought was there would never be another Von or a Denver D like this.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In choosing between the two countries, NASA recommends considering the weather, since overcast skies can all but wreck an eclipse experience.—
Maya Silver,
Outside,
21 Oct. 2025
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Selling each stone individually might be the easiest way for the thieves to sell the jewels, however, considering that law enforcement is on high alert.—
KC Baker,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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From salsa dancing to keep her brain sharp to going to meditation retreats with friends often, Ferree structures her life for optimal wellness.—
Renée Onque,
CNBC,
22 Oct. 2025
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And if you’re feeling compelled to listen to your own chants, white noises, meditations, etc.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Saft put himself through Northeastern University, participating in the school’s co-op program, which allows students to alternate between studying on campus and working in a field of interest.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
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Meanwhile, researchers at Johns Hopkins University are studying mini-brains to model diseases like Alzheimer’s and autism.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Notwithstanding this criticism, though, there is still a growing view within Delhi that foreign policy should be pragmatic and driven by interests rather than ethical considerations.—
Happymon Jacob,
Time,
16 Oct. 2025
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Good manners involves consideration for others, which sometimes means not spending too much time thinking about their behavior.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pondering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pondering. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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