as in melancholy
given to or marked by long, quiet thinking
he was clearly in a musing mood, and did not feel like talking just then
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Recent Examples of musing
Literary Hub, 5 Dec. 2025
Reddit user u/TotalThing7 shared a nostalgic musing in the subreddit r/CasualConversation after watching a 1990s TV show.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
That’s one philosophical musing.
—Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY, 2 Oct. 2025
Here and nowhere else, Holland treats Kafka’s oeuvre not as abstract fodder for pithy musing, but as texts which were published at a real point in history, that came from the mind of a person and not a divine conduit.
—Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for musing
Noun
Come for the stories of their first Stoppard experiences, stay for the heartwarming musing about Stoppard’s impact on their lives!
—Literary Hub, 5 Dec. 2025
Reddit user u/TotalThing7 shared a nostalgic musing in the subreddit r/CasualConversation after watching a 1990s TV show.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
That’s one philosophical musing.
—Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY, 2 Oct. 2025
Here and nowhere else, Holland treats Kafka’s oeuvre not as abstract fodder for pithy musing, but as texts which were published at a real point in history, that came from the mind of a person and not a divine conduit.
—Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for musing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for musing
Adjective
-
He can be wounded and sensitive (as in In the Mood for Love), mysterious and melancholy (as in Wong’s 2046), or slick and savage (as in Ang Lee’s Lust, Caution).—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
14 May 2026
-
Certain Regard strand in 2016, or his melancholy, elegantly structured exploration of grief, Love Life, a Venice competitor from 2022.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
During each session, expert instructors guide flowing yoga sessions and meditation with sweeping London skyline views.—
Rachel Dube,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
What a Women’s Wellness Retreat Actually Includes A women’s wellness retreat typically blends movement, meditation and community in a setting designed to feel restorative rather than performative.—
Lauren Schuster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
EBay’s board is now pondering GameStop’s offer.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
9 May 2026
-
The sequence left us pondering our pet cats and, for good measure, our worst selves.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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There’s also a spacious indoor area filled with educational toys and games, and the friendly staff facilitate thoughtful activities like Nautical Knot Tying, Anguillan Boat Racing, nature walks, steel drum lessons, and sports including soccer, basketball, volleyball, and pickleball.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
-
Instead of approaching pre-season cleaning as a frantic clear-out, experts suggest embracing thoughtful edits, a natural flow, and season-less updates that make a home feel lighter, more timeless and deeply personal.—
Jennifer Prince,
Southern Living,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Selzer’s contemplations bring together literature, history, philosophy, medicine, and ruminations.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 May 2026
-
Gold can be one option worth serious contemplation right now.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
5 May 2026
Verb
-
Marin directed some of his ire at Esalen, the epicenter of the Human Potential Movement and the playground, its critics scoffed, of those privileged enough to spend their days ruminating over the self.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Ricky Gervais will be in attendance to give a masterclass as creator and director of Netflix’s Alley Cats, the adult animation following a group of feral cats who seek companionship while ruminating on everyday life, accompanied by a sneak peek of the first two episodes.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The activity is not unlike the way US and Soviet submarines tailed one another in the Cold War, but instead of running silent and running deep, highly reflective satellites easily stand out against the inky blackness of space.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
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The room and exhibition were rooted in vibrant yellow and orange hues, reflective of the Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa, believed to be the birthplace of modern humankind.—
Kristen Tauer,
Footwear News,
14 May 2026
Noun
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Even with its unnecessary detours, Singing reaches this wild reverie in the end—a voice reclaimed to report, softly, from the fathomless depths of the human experience.—
Linnie Greene,
Pitchfork,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The sexy Eagle Bar was calling us to snap out of our reverie.—
Rebecca Rose,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Musing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/musing. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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