1
as in pondering
to give serious and careful thought to
she contemplated the problem for several hours before reaching a decision
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in planning
to have in mind as a purpose or goal
he waited patiently, contemplating revenge all the while
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 contemplating
With a new album out this summer—her first in a decade—Madonna’s reemergence on the pop scene has left many of us contemplating her ultimate place in its firmament.
—
Alex Frank,
Vogue,
2 July 2026
The embarrassing episode also amplified questions about whether, in fact, Alito is contemplating retirement, a possibility some court watchers had already been discussing.
—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
30 June 2026
Heading into July 2026, then, many may be contemplating the value of getting started with a program now.
—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
30 June 2026
But Cox and other officials warned anyone contemplating attending the fireworks festivities not to bring drones – or face arrest and a $100,000 fine.
—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
29 June 2026
At one point officials were contemplating a proposal for a hotel along with newer retail, and only three years ago paid a $2 million settlement to a previous developer who accused the town of reneging on a deal.
—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
25 June 2026
On this late May evening, the 15 men gathered there were contemplating tackling something few had previously had the courage or skill to take on.
—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Spike Lee — perhaps the first celebrity Knicks fans that comes to mind when contemplating the list — celebrated on the float that also carried Jalen Brunson.
—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
18 June 2026
The antitrust hurdle cleared by Paramount comes as state attorneys general in California, New York and almost a dozen other states are contemplating an antitrust suit to put the brakes on what would become a mega-studio.
—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
12 June 2026
Alex Frank,
Vogue,
2 July 2026
The embarrassing episode also amplified questions about whether, in fact, Alito is contemplating retirement, a possibility some court watchers had already been discussing.
—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
30 June 2026
Heading into July 2026, then, many may be contemplating the value of getting started with a program now.
—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
30 June 2026
But Cox and other officials warned anyone contemplating attending the fireworks festivities not to bring drones – or face arrest and a $100,000 fine.
—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
29 June 2026
At one point officials were contemplating a proposal for a hotel along with newer retail, and only three years ago paid a $2 million settlement to a previous developer who accused the town of reneging on a deal.
—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
25 June 2026
On this late May evening, the 15 men gathered there were contemplating tackling something few had previously had the courage or skill to take on.
—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Spike Lee — perhaps the first celebrity Knicks fans that comes to mind when contemplating the list — celebrated on the float that also carried Jalen Brunson.
—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
18 June 2026
The antitrust hurdle cleared by Paramount comes as state attorneys general in California, New York and almost a dozen other states are contemplating an antitrust suit to put the brakes on what would become a mega-studio.
—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
12 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contemplating
Verb
-
Bravo is sipping its cuppa and pondering what to do about those interesting ladies across the pond.
-
Some viewers appear to enjoy seeing the princess in modern settings, pondering over what could have been if her life wasn't cut short.
Verb
-
Andrea Davis, president and CEO of The Resiliency Initiative, has spent 25 years planning emergency response and crisis management for organizations including Disney, Walmart, the FIFA World Cup and Times Square's New Year's Eve celebration.
-
When planning for retirement, asset allocation, withdrawal strategies, and tax-efficient investing is typically top of mind.
Verb
-
Why Overreaction Is Dangerous The immune analogy becomes especially useful when considering failure modes.
-
The Facebook parent is also considering selling raw computing capacity à la neocloud companies like CoreWeave, according to the report.
Verb
-
Joumaa, a Lebanese journalist, first met Khalil intending to do a story on her.
-
For those intending to bring a touch of softness and polish to a room, this mohair pillow brings a tactile quality.
Verb
-
Lawyers are increasingly debating the role of outside investment in law firms, alternative business structures, multidisciplinary practices, and the growing influence of technology companies and private capital on the delivery of legal services.
-
The other was Michael Longfellow’s sketch about a guy dying at the top of a waterslide and debating whether he should be pushed down the slide or carried down the stairs, which was the only thing Bargatze kept talking about all week.
Verb
-
Along with the main shades in the lineup, there are seven color-correcting options that neutralize, brighten, and leave skin looking more refined.
-
After the revolution, explained Miller, Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton wasn't liking how the country's coffers were looking.
Verb
-
The program sponsors scholars studying at a wide range of majors and universities throughout the country.
-
France, Spain, Denmark, Thailand and South Korea are among others studying or developing similar approaches.
Verb
-
The video ends with the woman remaining at the scene until Broward Sheriff's Office deputies arrived and detained her for questioning.
-
This can be especially true for LGBTQ+ youth looking for support, teens questioning their identity, or young people whose religious, political or social views differ from those of their parents.
Cite this Entry
“Contemplating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contemplating. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
