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
Wyn Baptiste An acclaimed photographer of street protests ponders the effectiveness of his work, even as his images provoke palpable international reactions.
—
Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2025
Still, no one is ever confirmed as being in the tomb, and Debbie even ponders whether or not Danny is really dead.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Oct. 2025
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
Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2025
Still, no one is ever confirmed as being in the tomb, and Debbie even ponders whether or not Danny is really dead.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ponders
Verb
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Throughout, Stein—or her narrator—contemplates the future of her work.—
Via Scribner,
Literary Hub,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Hoover bounces back with a clean game, while Coach Prime contemplates making a quarterback change.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Five years later, Yang considers the case for UBI to be as strong as ever.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
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Tarrant County Tarrant County Public Health uses an inspection format that considers 100 as the highest possible score, with a score of 70 considered extremely poor.—
Ella Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 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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As her husband nears one year in his new job, Hines is nearing one year with a new life even as the country debates her spouse's controversial policy agenda including his beliefs about vaccines.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
8 Oct. 2025
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In a third scene, the group debates what to do.—
Callum McLennan,
Variety,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ponders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ponders. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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