as in melancholy
given to or marked by long, quiet thinking
a ruminative man, who contributed to discussions only after he had completely thought things through
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Recent Examples of ruminative
Scarlet feels like his biggest movie yet, a ruminative war picture that stages medieval battles and pitches its characters through the mortal coil and back.
—
Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruminative
Adjective
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Johnson, Evans and Pascal – and while certainly thoughtful, the film's strengths are upended by a mood-murdering melancholy.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
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The day of the hearing, Vande Kolk climbed into his truck and headed home, feeling melancholy.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The guest experience is elevated by thoughtful details such as sunset happy hours and chocolate carts.—
Taylor McIntyre,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
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But some more thoughtful objections — see journalist Van Lathan’s October appearance on The Ringer podcast The Big Picture — take issue with the ways in which Perfidia is sexualized by two white men, DiCaprio and Sean Penn’s characters, the latter a neo-Nazi.—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Dach was feeling reflective after the game Saturday.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
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Pedestrians and cyclists should wear bright or reflective clothing to increase the chances of being seen by others in poor visibility conditions.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The town is a different place during the colder months – sometimes gloomy and overcast, other times brilliantly sunny, but typically quiet, even contemplative.—
Jonathan Shikes,
Denver Post,
27 Oct. 2025
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Those seeking a more contemplative experience might book a spot at the historic Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine for a meditation session in the serene gardens, a Hollywood favorite since its unveiling in 1950.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The actor sported a pensive expression while filming scenes for 1998's The Man in the Iron Mask.—
Grace Gavilanes,
PEOPLE,
11 Nov. 2025
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The post included a series of pictures of D’Angelo in the studio, as well as a snap of the two musicians in which D is giving one of his classic pensive, knowing looks and Hill is smiling as the pair lean their heads together.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Those years brought a new swath of fans to Gunn’s meditative folk and rock sounds, showcased on low-key masterpieces like 2019’s The Unseen In Between.—
Simon Vozick-Levinson,
Rolling Stone,
5 Nov. 2025
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Curate slow and meditative starts to the day during this season that support a regulated nervous system instead.—
Essence,
Essence,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ruminative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruminative. Accessed 30 Nov. 2025.
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