consider

verb

kən-ˈsi-dər How to pronounce consider (audio)
Definition of considernext
1
as in to regard
to think of in a particular way I consider him a very good friend

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to contemplate
to give serious and careful thought to carefully considering our options

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to think
to have as an opinion consider the price too high

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to anticipate
to give consideration to (as unexpected circumstances or contingencies) I had to consider the commute in deciding whether to take the job

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to admire
to think very highly or favorably of her well-considered novels have seldom been best sellers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb consider differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of consider are contemplate, study, and weigh. While all these words mean "to think about in order to arrive at a judgment or decision," consider may suggest giving thought to in order to reach a suitable conclusion, opinion, or decision.

refused even to consider my proposal

In what contexts can contemplate take the place of consider?

The synonyms contemplate and consider are sometimes interchangeable, but contemplate stresses focusing one's thoughts on something but does not imply coming to a conclusion or decision.

contemplate the consequences of refusing

When would study be a good substitute for consider?

The meanings of study and consider largely overlap; however, study implies sustained purposeful concentration and attention to details and minutiae.

study the plan closely

When could weigh be used to replace consider?

Although the words weigh and consider have much in common, weigh implies attempting to reach the truth or arrive at a decision by balancing conflicting claims or evidence.

weigh the pros and cons of the case

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 consider For a more adventurous itinerary, consider the 10-night Tokyo to Hong Kong sailing. —Megan Dubois, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026 However, the use of chemical fertilizers within the product guidelines will be considered safe use. —Chris McKeown, Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 Feb. 2026 Coast Guard teams are deployed around the country and around the world and perform a wide range of missions that are considered essential, from search and rescue to interdicting drug vessels. —Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 14 Feb. 2026 Jamie Squire / Getty Images Malinin had been considered perhaps the face of these Milan Cortina Games. —The Sports Desk, NBC news, 14 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for consider
Recent Examples of Synonyms for consider
  1. regard
  2. contemplate
  3. think
  4. anticipate
  5. admire
  6. call
  7. ponder
  8. believe
Verb
  • It’s regarded as his greatest song ever, containing his favorite themes of violence, mortality, regret, and above all, loneliness, against the backdrop of the American wilderness.
    — Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2026
  • The agency has not specified if the suspension of the police powers of Blanchette and Leslie are due to violations of its policies regarding pursuits and forcibly ending them.
    — Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of regard
Verb
  • By the slice Investors dominate housing in some of California’s most lightly populated counties when contemplating the share of houses not occupied by their owners.
    — Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Inside the private room of a Country Club Plaza steakhouse, top officials from the England national team contemplated their World Cup future.
    — Sam McDowell Updated February 13, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of contemplate
Verb
  • People think, oh, this is just a nepotism situation.
    — Ben Smith, semafor.com, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Lindsey showed that people can do it a lot longer than anybody thought.
    — Sean Gregory, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of think
Verb
  • That unfurled into the most fundamental reason the wide world of sports will be descending on Kansas City this June and July, with 650,000-plus visitors anticipated even before the base camp announcements.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Yet even with this long history of violence, neither those who watched from afar nor those who took to the streets anticipated repression on this scale.
    — Pegah Banihashemi, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
Definition of anticipate
Verb
  • Vidovic admired how Brusek could go into basketball after missing four years and not miss a beat.
    — Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
  • The massive lobby is bustling at any time of day, but take a moment to pause and admire the common space's Dale Chihuly centerpiece that's comprised of more than 600 pieces of blown glass.
    — Laura Ratliff, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of admire
Verb
  • For example, Blue Origin and Sierra Space are working together on an outpost called Orbital Reef, and a consortium including NanoRacks and Voyager Space are developing one named Starlab.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 16 Feb. 2026
  • The seven-time All-Star made his first seven shots with five 3-pointers amid raucous cheers from the extra-steep supporters’ section called The Wall behind one basket at this futuristic 18-month-old arena.
    — Greg Beacham, Twin Cities, 16 Feb. 2026
Definition of call
Verb
  • Here's a fascinating premise to ponder!
    — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Seven years ago, Williams was sitting in his bed in his New York studio apartment, eating pizza out of the box and pondering where to take his career.
    — Tara Larson, Footwear News, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of ponder
Verb
  • Like many others in his community, Awad believes the Israeli government intentionally neglects crime perpetrated against Palestinian citizens.
    — Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Last Thursday, the league issued a $500,000 fine to the Utah Jazz and a $100,000 penalty to the Indiana Pacers for sitting healthy players, believing their apparent tanking actions compromised the league's competitive integrity.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Feb. 2026
Definition of believe

Browse Nearby Words

conserving
consider
considerable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Consider.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/consider. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on consider

Nglish: Translation of consider for Spanish Speakers

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