as in contemplates
to give serious and careful thought to
I'm pondering whether or not I should join another committee
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ponders
Vieira ponders the dilemma from his own perspective as a coach, having had spells in charge at New York City, Nice, Crystal Palace, Strasbourg and Genoa.
—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
15 June 2026
As coach John Hynes ponders his Game 1 starter, the recent numbers will show that Wallstedt has allowed a total of four goals in his final two regular-season starts, while veteran Filip Gustavsson has been touched for 10 in the same span.
—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
15 Apr. 2026
While Heinrich ponders the misfiring neurons in the brain of a mass shooter, Jack’s pursuit of Mink—a character whose skin color and ambiguous ethnicity Jack remarks on repeatedly—leads him directly into the urban teeth of the War on Drugs.
—
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
Who ever ponders the conveniences of that 20th century innovation, the airplane, that makes 21st century hustle possible?
—
Bill Barrow,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
Who ever ponders the conveniences of that 20th-century innovation, the airplane, that makes 21st-century hustle possible?
—
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
That novel ponders the problem of a great artist, or someone we’re invited to believe is a great artist, tangled in the moral compromises of making art under the conditions of the Third Reich.
—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
The new season of The Comeback arrives in 2026, perhaps the most perilous time Hollywood has ever faced as the town anxiously ponders how AI might shape, or decimate, the industry in the coming years.
—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, Derek’s mother-in-law visits, and Paul ponders his legacy.
—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
1 Mar. 2026
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
15 June 2026
As coach John Hynes ponders his Game 1 starter, the recent numbers will show that Wallstedt has allowed a total of four goals in his final two regular-season starts, while veteran Filip Gustavsson has been touched for 10 in the same span.
—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
15 Apr. 2026
While Heinrich ponders the misfiring neurons in the brain of a mass shooter, Jack’s pursuit of Mink—a character whose skin color and ambiguous ethnicity Jack remarks on repeatedly—leads him directly into the urban teeth of the War on Drugs.
—
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
Who ever ponders the conveniences of that 20th century innovation, the airplane, that makes 21st century hustle possible?
—
Bill Barrow,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
Who ever ponders the conveniences of that 20th-century innovation, the airplane, that makes 21st-century hustle possible?
—
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
That novel ponders the problem of a great artist, or someone we’re invited to believe is a great artist, tangled in the moral compromises of making art under the conditions of the Third Reich.
—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
The new season of The Comeback arrives in 2026, perhaps the most perilous time Hollywood has ever faced as the town anxiously ponders how AI might shape, or decimate, the industry in the coming years.
—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, Derek’s mother-in-law visits, and Paul ponders his legacy.
—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
1 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ponders
Verb
-
The agreement contemplates beginning the design phase of the new stations while the arbitration is ongoing.
-
It’s been a long time since Steven Spielberg directed a film as quintessentially Spielbergian as Disclosure Day, which contemplates how humankind might react to proof that extraterrestrial life exists.
Verb
-
Scott Barnes, Jennifer Lopez’s longtime makeup artist, considers the ingredients of this Korean sunscreen a plus for minimizing the look of pores, while delivering other benefits to aging skin.
-
The book considers Tobar’s own experiences and delves into topics including immigration, colonialism, and how Latino people are portrayed in popular culture.
Verb
-
Fans can enjoy a selection of food favorites like hot dogs, pizza, pierogi, burgers, warm pretzels and popcorn in addition to full-service bars in the stands, while mascot Rusty the Railcat entertains all ages.
-
For Rodriguez, the property represents the realization of a childhood dream that shaped not only the architecture of the home but also how the couple entertains and lives.
Verb
-
As Silicon Valley debates whether AI will replace millions of office workers, one of the executives building the technology’s underlying infrastructure says Gen Z shouldn’t buy into the apocalyptic job displacement predictions.
-
So vetting needs pre-agreed criteria like strategic fit, feasibility, and speed to impact scored before the room debates, so the idea gets evaluated instead of the person who had it.
Cite this Entry
“Ponders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ponders. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
