thinking 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of thinkingnext
as in reasoning
having the ability to reason it's surprising to find thinking people who believe such nonsense

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

thinking

2 of 3

noun

as in meditation

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Dissimilar Words

thinking

3 of 3

verb

present participle of think
as in believing
to have as an opinion I think we should wait for someone to come help us out

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 thinking
Adjective
Credit Gus Malzahn for being proactive and thinking long-term in choosing his starting quarterback. — Creg Stephenson | [email protected], al, 22 Aug. 2019 The quick-thinking team administrator came up with a solution – flag down a tour bus. — Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 25 June 2018
Noun
In the post-Watergate, post-Vietnam era, this thinking went, Congress had gone too far in constraining the executive branch with presumptuous reforms that aimed to secure greater accountability and transparency from the White House. — Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026 Shushmita Chauhan got emotional thinking about all their hard work that was shattered in just moments. — Nick Caloway, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
Verb
Jason Hansberger, director of the DAF-Stanford AI Studio, talked about his experience in the defense industry, and put forward a novel suggestion involving two different modes of thinking about autonomous design. — John Werner, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 The Liberty obviously didn’t mind not facing key starters for the Aces in what was an easy victory, but even Jonquel Jones couldn’t blame Hammon for thinking about the future. — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for thinking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thinking
  1. rational
  2. meditation
  3. believing
  4. intelligent
  5. contemplation
  6. guessing
  7. reflection
  8. considering
Adjective
  • Gorbachev, still consolidating power, was taking a risk by bucking anti-American hawks back in Moscow and standing with Reagan to join him in officially ruling out nuclear war as a rational instrument of policy.
    — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Three functions, each making the rational local decision, and together producing an outcome that would not have been chosen for the enterprise as a whole.
    — Carsten Polenz, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of rational
Noun
  • Practicing meditation, visualization, or deep breathing may help in distracting from the discomfort of a full bladder for a short time.
    — Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Other common practices among Druids include the celebration of seasonal festivals, meditation, and divination.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of meditation
Verb
  • Encouraged by his son, Michael, Storch held talks over becoming a minority shareholder at Reading alongside fellow American Rob Couhig, before believing a full takeover of Cardiff City was possible following their relegation to League One.
    — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Tens of thousands of people showing up believing that something was going to happen to them that night, and handing you that certainty.
    — Jeff Rabhan, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of believing
Adjective
  • That so many otherwise intelligent people missed the warning signs is a testament to the power of his message and the force of his charisma.
    — James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026
  • For example, Anderson has one client who’s 35, good looking and tall and in finance, who also wants a gorgeous and intelligent girl.
    — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of intelligent
Noun
  • Indeed, Serrano’s image is, to me, comparable to an icon, worthy of sincere contemplation.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The process of filming and editing became one of observation, contemplation and confrontation.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of contemplation
Verb
  • The bot loses a point for losing to me and another for guessing in five!
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The notion of luck is seemingly an ill fit for his new home state, where fortunes were made by guessing where to drill a hole into the ground in search of oil.
    — Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of guessing
Noun
  • Mercury in your 10th House of Career sextiles Venus in your 12th House of Solitude, helping behind-the-scenes reflection shape a smarter professional choice.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
  • If an essay is built around specific, vivid details and honest reflection throughout, the reader should already understand what the experience meant to the student well before the final paragraph.
    — Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of reflection
Verb
  • Citing low voter low turnout in the middle of the summer, top state officials are considering whether to change the August primary to another month.
    — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026
  • McCaslin was already considering a broader relocation request.
    — Devon M. Sayers, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of considering

Browse Nearby Words

think factory
thinking
thinking (about or over)
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Cite this Entry

“Thinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thinking. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on thinking

Nglish: Translation of thinking for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about thinking

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