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
Set in Los Angeles, this ruminative novel alternates in perspective between a blockbuster actor, his best friend and sometime lover, and an aspiring screenwriter.
—
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
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
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruminative
Adjective
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Cookie cravings, a tinge of melancholy, and the urge to hibernate and fix your life all at once.—
Anna Grace Lee,
Vogue,
8 Jan. 2026
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There is a note of melancholy associated with the former house, as the dormitory long bore the name of a student, Emily Cluett, who had caught the flu more than a century ago and died.—
Helen I. Bennett,
Hartford Courant,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Some parents carefully vetted and chose thoughtful names to add to the birth certificate, while others undoubtedly may have selected them on a whim or as a result of losing a bet.—
Cooper Worth,
Des Moines Register,
9 Jan. 2026
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Soft, breathable materials and thoughtful construction have made the silhouette way more wearable, offering a happy medium between your comfiest sneakers and your dressiest pumps.—
Nina Derwin,
Glamour,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The mesh uppers are secure but not snug, and the reflective details come in handy for early morning or evening runs.—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
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Brent Weinstein’s trip to London did not go unnoticed in the UK agenting world and was reflective of where the industry finds itself as 2026 kicks off.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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While wrestling is physical and intense, golf is more contemplative.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Jan. 2026
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There, the tea ceremony was both a contemplative act and an occasion to display Chinese calligraphy, paintings and ceramics.—
The Conversation,
The Conversation,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Despite this, one of the more poignant bronzes her mother made at this time is of Flora, seated quietly in an armchair, the curve of her body and downcast expression manifesting her pensive mood.—
Fiona Donovan,
Vanity Fair,
30 Dec. 2025
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There’s Walter’s serene cello and Marjorie’s pensive, slightly coy violin, sometimes playful or petulant or, still, a little vain and secretive — other times thin and trembling, lost in the haze of dementia.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
9 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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While freshwater fishing is often calm and meditative, saltwater fishing can feel like a contact sport.—
Francesca Krempa,
Outside,
9 Jan. 2026
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Earlier trailblazers such as Russian director Andrei Tarkovsky had demonstrated the potential of meditative moviemaking.—
Tim Grierson,
Rolling Stone,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ruminative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruminative. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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