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 San Antonio will ruminate for a long time on the mistakes that cost it a 29-point lead, including a pass out of bounds when Stephon Castle wasn’t looking for the ball and Fox’s decision to shoot the layup rather than wait for the Knicks to foul him. Joe Vardon, New York Times, 11 June 2026 Shaboozey, who cites Pink Floyd’s surreal The Wall as one of his favorite albums and movies, had been ruminating on the idea for more than a decade. Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 8 June 2026 But Yi has ruminated on these interconnections for more than two decades, making visible (and, sometimes, odorous) the systems around us that are microscopic, impermanent, or technologically abstract, often questioning our discomfort with them. Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 29 May 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for ruminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruminate
Verb
  • Plunkett, with the Norman Rockwell Museum, pondered whether Americans viewing the painting today would find a familiar feeling.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 25 June 2026
  • Season 2 continues this thread, and Hely pondered the sense of exhaustion about living in this corporate world.
    Kambole Campbell, Variety, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • To see why, readers need only contemplate the growth of wealth around the United States at all income levels.
    John Tamny, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • But Cox and other officials warned anyone contemplating attending the fireworks festivities not to bring drones – or face arrest and a $100,000 fine.
    Josh Meyer, USA Today, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • Even now at more than 50 years old, there is something undeniable about the movie’s ability to entertain, delight and terrify an audience.
    Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • The on-site Children’s Garden adds to its appeal, with interactive features that keep younger visitors entertained for hours.
    Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • Sure, it can certainly be debated if Marathon being revived after all this time as an extraction shooter was the right call.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
  • As Florida lawmakers continue to debate healthcare affordability and patient protections, this is an issue that deserves urgent attention.
    Karen Arace, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • Aid groups consider the first 48 to 72 hours after a disaster to be the most critical window for finding survivors, though access to food and water can extend that period.
    Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 28 June 2026
  • Should Portugal have rested Ronaldo against Colombia, considering Portugal entered Saturday’s match already assured of advancing to the knockout stage?
    Anthony Chiang June 27, Miami Herald, 28 June 2026
Verb
  • Lara Schwarz studies the effect of wildfires and heat waves on public health at UC Berkeley.
    Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 26 June 2026
  • Supporters argue the Bible should be studied as an essential literary text that can help students understand Western history and the founding of the US.
    Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 26 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ruminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruminate. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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