Definition of ruminatenext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word ruminate different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of ruminate are meditate, muse, and ponder. While all these words mean "to consider or examine attentively or deliberately," ruminate implies going over the same matter in one's thoughts again and again but suggests little of either purposive thinking or rapt absorption.

ruminated on past disappointments

When is it sensible to use meditate instead of ruminate?

While in some cases nearly identical to ruminate, meditate implies a definite focusing of one's thoughts on something so as to understand it deeply.

meditated on the meaning of life

When might muse be a better fit than ruminate?

The synonyms muse and ruminate are sometimes interchangeable, but muse suggests a more or less focused daydreaming as in remembrance.

mused upon childhood joys

When is ponder a more appropriate choice than ruminate?

Although the words ponder and ruminate have much in common, ponder implies a careful weighing of a problem or, often, prolonged inconclusive thinking about a matter.

pondered the course of action

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 ruminate Marin directed some of his ire at Esalen, the epicenter of the Human Potential Movement and the playground, its critics scoffed, of those privileged enough to spend their days ruminating over the self. Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026 Ricky Gervais will be in attendance to give a masterclass as creator and director of Netflix’s Alley Cats, the adult animation following a group of feral cats who seek companionship while ruminating on everyday life, accompanied by a sneak peek of the first two episodes. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2026 But Gernsback's innovation of collecting previously-diffuse bits of literature ruminating on scientific discovery or technological advancement in one place proved to be an idea with staying power. Chris Klimek, NPR, 25 Apr. 2026 My assignment was to ruminate on the quiet, to contemplate it, and if all went well, to exult in it. Matt Crossman, Midwest Living, 14 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ruminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruminate
Verb
  • That’s in addition to problems like data drift, bias in training data, black swan events, and other things that the panelists touched on in pondering the challenges of instituting these systems in a highly regulated industry.
    John Werner, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
  • And ponder permits for multifamily units, primarily housing in apartment complexes.
    Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • For most high schoolers, the summer between sophomore and junior years means looking ahead to the ACT and, reflecting on the halfway point, starting to more seriously contemplate what the future has in store.
    Jim Dudlicek, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2026
  • The antitrust hurdle cleared by Paramount comes as state attorneys general in California, New York and almost a dozen other states are contemplating an antitrust suit to put the brakes on what would become a mega-studio.
    Dominic Patten, Deadline, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • The Mexican national team will kick off the 2026 World Cup against South Africa on Thursday with the weight of entertaining 83,000 at iconic Azteca Stadium and soccer fans around the globe.
    Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
  • To start things off, let’s entertain a thought experiment.
    Stefan Szymanski, The Conversation, 10 June 2026
Verb
  • The attendees debated where all these new treatments might fit in, especially with Eli Lilly currently dominating the market for shots and impressing attendees with data from its experimental triple-acting drug retatrutide that produced the most weight loss seen yet.
    Angelica Peebles, CNBC, 13 June 2026
  • But also debates within the Labour Party, the state of the polls, the development of public opinion, and the success or otherwise of the government in generating growth by other means.
    Anand Menon, Time, 13 June 2026
Verb
  • But those most recent generations have known far more heartbreak than would really be considered fair for most other teams.
    Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 14 June 2026
  • The discovery is so surprising because even though AGNs are rich with gas and dust — the building blocks of planets — the turbulent conditions within the disks wouldn't generally be considered ideal for forming planets.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 14 June 2026
Verb
  • The range of work presented a challenge for guest juror Jade Powers, curator of contemporary art at the Birmingham Museum of Art, who spent an afternoon studying the exhibition before selecting the recipient of the Florida Prize’s $20,000 award.
    Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 11 June 2026
  • The team studies how to monitor and predict the blooms, which cause environmental and economic harm.
    Ari Daniel, NPR, 11 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ruminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruminate. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.

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