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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The melancholy truth is that things have sunk into a morass of demoralization and low standards, with journalism inhabiting the poverty sector among the disciplines, and this at a time when communications nationally and internationally have reached an apex of urgency and complexity.—
David Wingrave,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
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The soundscape’s melancholy unease conveys a sense of people persisting against the chaos of the world.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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For a thoughtful gift, package Joanna Gaines’ vanilla sugar with a bag of coffee beans, a cute mug, or a small French press to create a complete coffee kit.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Oct. 2025
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For families who value that approach, Carruth’s books offer a thoughtful and accessible way to encourage shared reading and meaningful connection.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Manicurist Brittney Boyce, Fox's go-to nail artist, mimicked that deep red color on the star's nails—with a modern, reflective cats-eye texture.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
27 Oct. 2025
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Adding reflective tape to costumes or bags, wearing bright colors and carrying a flashlight or glow stick can help drivers see trick-or-treaters.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Immersing yourself in a Japanese onsen is an extraordinary experience, equal parts spiritual and physical; the ritual of bathing is contemplative rather than merely functional.—
Mark Ellwood,
AFAR Media,
20 Oct. 2025
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The result, then, is something more contemplative and atmospheric, due in small part to a dizzying and deeply affecting score by Ken Wannberg.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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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
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Stephen depicts the women’s schooltime bond in hypnotic flashbacks, and their separation largely through absence itself, with gliding, pensive shots of places—rooms, buildings, streets—where the women have been and may be again but which, onscreen, are vacant.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Bentley, who directed from a script he co-wrote with his longtime collaborator Greg Kwedar, paints a portrait of grief and transformation with meditative precision and visual poetry.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
24 Oct. 2025
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The design is minimalist yet warm, with private areas for relaxation, soft lighting, and views of the runway that feel meditative rather than chaotic.—
Staff Author,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ruminative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruminative. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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