ruminant

adjective

Definition of ruminantnext
as in melancholy
given to or marked by long, quiet thinking I wandered around campus all day in a ruminant mood

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruminant
  1. melancholy
  2. reflective
  3. thoughtful
  4. philosophical
  5. contemplative
Adjective
  • Viard describes the melancholy of her post-Chanel life in detail, describing herself as a ghost, haunted by the presence of Lagerfeld’s memory.
    — Olivier Bouchara, Vanity Fair, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The fading studio carries a note of melancholy about the state of the film industry as AI advances.
    — Jenny S. Li, Variety, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of melancholy
Adjective
  • Mercury in your sign opposes Chiron in your partnership zone, making close relationships unusually reflective today.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Advice still needs to be reflective of the client’s data, commercial objectives, sector conditions and risk appetite.
    — Bas Kniphorst, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of reflective
Adjective
  • Patrick is a mix of stately confidence and thoughtful inquiry.
    — Kyle Maclachlan, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026
  • And there’s a useful distinction between dressing down to make someone else comfortable and being thoughtful about the signals your clothes send.
    — Morgan Sullivan, Glamour, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of thoughtful
Adjective
  • The problem of longevity possesses philosophical and practical contradictions, now heightened by the gradual disappearance of artists of Serra’s generation and the uncertain posthumous legacy of their work.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Becca Rothfeld reports from the (surprisingly philosophical) Pro-Human Assembly.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of philosophical
Adjective
  • Her honeyed vocals are a powerful pairing for this track’s lilting, contemplative production.
    — Lyndsey Havens, Billboard, 25 Sep. 2026
  • And in Walworth County, travelers will find more of that contemplative, fall experience, according to Emma Lowecki, director of guest experience at The Belfry House.
    — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of contemplative
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.

Browse Nearby Words

rumbustiousness
ruminant
ruminate
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Cite this Entry

“Ruminant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruminant. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on ruminant

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ruminant

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