as in contemplates
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 ponders
Song broke out with her 2023 drama Past Lives, which follows a woman from Seoul, South Korea, who ponders her relationship with a childhood friend in the decades after her family immigrates to Canada and marries an American man in New York City.
—
Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2025
The research team carefully ponders numerous different inputs for each type of complexity.
—Nathan Goldman, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Sorrentino’s script cleverly ponders the difference between the truth absorbed up close and the law, which is viewed from a distance.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2025
This is hard science fiction that ponders monumental questions about loyalty, technology and who (or what) deserves to survive.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 6 Aug. 2025
Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2025
The research team carefully ponders numerous different inputs for each type of complexity.
—Nathan Goldman, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Sorrentino’s script cleverly ponders the difference between the truth absorbed up close and the law, which is viewed from a distance.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2025
This is hard science fiction that ponders monumental questions about loyalty, technology and who (or what) deserves to survive.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ponders
Verb
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The couple now keeps the tiny strands safe, even as Jessica contemplates one day turning them into a keepsake.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
10 Sep. 2025
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Not everyone contemplates the cosmos, but star sign beliefs may lead us to choose our romantic partner or judge our existing partner’s motives and intentions, based on what their horoscope says.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
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As the deadline approaches and ALDOT considers its next move, Shiloh residents say their homes continue to flood.—
Maia Rosenfeld,
ABC News,
1 Oct. 2025
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Unfortunately for Helsley, his Mets tenure will be on replay in the head of every general manager who even considers giving him an offer.—
Drew VonScio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The question is whether that hardware expands or merely entertains.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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By night, Criel entertains guests for intimate dinners — and the occasional artistic performance.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In a third scene, the group debates what to do.—
Callum McLennan,
Variety,
23 Sep. 2025
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The world often debates climate change in the language of science and economics.—
Feleti Penitala Teo,
Time,
22 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ponders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ponders. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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