as in pondering
to give serious and careful thought to
the minister hoped that the congregation would spend the remainder of the week ruminating the message of his sermon
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Recent Examples of ruminating
Slone has a much softer and more plaintive voice and, judging from his finely wrought songs, a tendency to contend with heartbreak not by going out and raging but by staying in and ruminating.
—
Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2026
For instance, research finds that walking in nature results in diminished activation in the area of the brain associated with sadness and ruminating thoughts.
—Stacy Shaw, Fortune, 26 Dec. 2025
For instance, research finds that walking in nature results in diminished activation in the area of the brain associated with sadness and ruminating thoughts.
—Stacy Shaw, The Conversation, 18 Dec. 2025
Hurzeler, hands in pockets, was ruminating.
—Liam Tharme, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Now, in his late-middle age, a much more flexible Linklater is ruminating on other notorious artists.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025
A lot of it is simple, disciplined, ruminating in a way that won’t surprise anyone aware of his work with The National.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2025
But beta blockers only address the physical response to anxiety — not the ruminating or worrying.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Oct. 2025
Now Guillermo del Toro — cinema’s biggest proponent of big-screen fantasy — has completed his two-and-a-half-hour version, an epic adaptation with a blockbuster budget, a stamp of auteurship, and decades spent ruminating on the relevance of Shelley’s text in the modern era.
—Rory Doherty, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025
Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2026
For instance, research finds that walking in nature results in diminished activation in the area of the brain associated with sadness and ruminating thoughts.
—Stacy Shaw, Fortune, 26 Dec. 2025
For instance, research finds that walking in nature results in diminished activation in the area of the brain associated with sadness and ruminating thoughts.
—Stacy Shaw, The Conversation, 18 Dec. 2025
Hurzeler, hands in pockets, was ruminating.
—Liam Tharme, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Now, in his late-middle age, a much more flexible Linklater is ruminating on other notorious artists.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025
A lot of it is simple, disciplined, ruminating in a way that won’t surprise anyone aware of his work with The National.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2025
But beta blockers only address the physical response to anxiety — not the ruminating or worrying.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Oct. 2025
Now Guillermo del Toro — cinema’s biggest proponent of big-screen fantasy — has completed his two-and-a-half-hour version, an epic adaptation with a blockbuster budget, a stamp of auteurship, and decades spent ruminating on the relevance of Shelley’s text in the modern era.
—Rory Doherty, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruminating
Verb
-
The Rams will be at home pondering what might have been.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
-
That was the question that Golden Rain Foundation directors asked in August while pondering ways to reduce costs and improve efficiency.—
Anita Gosch,
Oc Register,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Among critics is San José Mayor Matt Mahan, a tech-friendly Democrat who is contemplating a run for governor.—
Kevinisha Walker,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Today's developments, however, also spark a new series of questions worth contemplating.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This week, legislators will begin debating several of them.—
The Denver Post,
Denver Post,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Those of us gathered in Davos were no longer debating whether AI will change the world and shape our collective futures; that is settled.—
Mark Minevich,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Dave Parker, a spokesman for the Arkansas Department of Transportation, said interstates and highways were in pretty good shape overall considering the amount of sleet and snow.—
Bill Bowden,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Retain clients who were considering leaving?—
Kwame Christian Esq,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Our team actually went down a rabbit hole really just studying this category of books because there are a lot of folks that didn’t even really know that this genre existed or existed in such volume and that there was so much fandom around it.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
31 Jan. 2026
-
As part of that, ESA scientists are studying what happens when satellites burn up.—
Leonard David,
Space.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Speaking of stepping out, the Garrison Club at Whistler Square offers everything residents need from pampering to entertaining without having to step foot out of the Chelsea Barracks community.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
27 Jan. 2026
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Vince Young Steakhouse, a staple of downtown Austin’s dining scene for 15 years, closed its doors Sunday, ending its run as a go-to spot for business dinners, entertaining out-of-town guests and milestone celebrations.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The incident heightened national attention on aviation safety in 2025, with many people questioning whether flying was safe.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
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Online posts questioning the city’s account continued into the week, and protesters have kept returning to the Hyatt, banging pots and chanting in subfreezing temperatures.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Eventually a team from TPWD arrived with a tanker truck to carry the fish back to the Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens, where all the Legacy Lunkers (largemouth bass weighing 14 pounds or more) are brought to carry on the state’s selective breeding program.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
29 Jan. 2026
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The detector itself is a 26-meter-long, 16-meter-tall cylindrical apparatus weighing 10,000 tonnes.—
Tejasri Gururaj,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ruminating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruminating. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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