as in melancholy
given to or marked by long, quiet thinking
rainy days often put her in a pensive mood
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pensive
This summer’s take on beachy perfumes encapsulates the calming, pensive, and healing nature of the seashore.
—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
3 June 2026
Another shot included here shows a more pensive Marilyn on set, waiting to spring to life.
—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
1 June 2026
Ava takes herself for a pensive solo walk in comically wide pants.
—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
With stories focused on surviving rowdy family, moments of loneliness, struggles with faith, and navigating our deepest human relationships, Johnson’s abilities as a pensive storyteller are conducted masterfully.
—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pensive
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
3 June 2026
Another shot included here shows a more pensive Marilyn on set, waiting to spring to life.
—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
1 June 2026
Ava takes herself for a pensive solo walk in comically wide pants.
—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
With stories focused on surviving rowdy family, moments of loneliness, struggles with faith, and navigating our deepest human relationships, Johnson’s abilities as a pensive storyteller are conducted masterfully.
—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pensive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pensive
Adjective
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That melancholy was discovered by the Romantics, and, in its coarser variation, was equivalent to despair.
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The goofy sketch comedies and homemade spoofs that once filled his channel gradually disappeared, replaced by melancholy short films and bleak monologues.
Adjective
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High ceilings and generous proportions create volume, while thoughtful transitions blur the lines between interior and exterior, extending daily life beyond the home’s four walls.
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The bold contrast calls for thoughtful choices of wall color.
Adjective
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Was came from a working-class industrial city, making music reflective of Detroit’s technological upheaval and economic neglect.
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Practically architectural in its precision, her hair is pulled straight back and upwards without a visible part to create a smooth, downright reflective surface from her hairline to the crown.
Adjective
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Researchers have demonstrated that contemplative practices associated with emotional regulation can influence both psychological and physiological functioning.
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Its central hub, where the wellness offerings, main dining room and 35 of the 65 bedrooms are located, is invitingly curvaceous, with sci-fi swirls of walls and sparkling swathes of window bookended by two vast, contemplative courtyards.
Adjective
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The film breathes in a dynamic way, the last few beats taking a startling turn toward a somber wistfulness.
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The hilltop De Smet Cemetery strikes a somber note.
Cite this Entry
“Pensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pensive. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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