as in to contemplate
to give serious and careful thought to
I'm pondering whether or not I should join another committee
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ponder
Comments Eddie learns that Conrad is his father, prompting him to disappear and ponder his future place in the crime family.
—
Matt Cabral, EW.com, 1 June 2025
While splinters were already forming, a trio of Grammy nominations nevertheless followed - with Potter left to ponder what could’ve/should’ve been.
—Jim Ryan, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Alas, Stamkos chose to sign with the Nashville Predators for four years at $8 million a season — a deal that looks somewhat regrettable on both sides 11 months later, with Nashville crashing into the NHL’s basement and now pondering its own retool.
—James Mirtle, New York Times, 20 May 2025
California Democrats are now pondering the unthinkable.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ponder
Matt Cabral, EW.com, 1 June 2025
While splinters were already forming, a trio of Grammy nominations nevertheless followed - with Potter left to ponder what could’ve/should’ve been.
—Jim Ryan, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Alas, Stamkos chose to sign with the Nashville Predators for four years at $8 million a season — a deal that looks somewhat regrettable on both sides 11 months later, with Nashville crashing into the NHL’s basement and now pondering its own retool.
—James Mirtle, New York Times, 20 May 2025
California Democrats are now pondering the unthinkable.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ponder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ponder
Verb
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These appear to be slightly more survivable, although the casualty rate is so high no Western army would contemplate such tactics.—
David Hambling,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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Smart’s captors subjected her to rape daily, something that drove her to the point of contemplating suicide.—
Stephanie Kaloi,
People.com,
5 June 2025
Verb
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But unifying the roughly 50 canvases is a realism that digs beneath the surface to consider her subjects’ complex inner lives.—
Julie Belcove,
Robb Report,
10 June 2025
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Go back further, and its predecessor was party to what is widely considered the worst corporate merger in history, the union of AOL and Time Warner in 2001.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
10 June 2025
Verb
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The audience is pulled in, and ultimately entertained, not just by the impeccable performances, but via an inside look at average, everyday people.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
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The day of 19th-century-style outdoor recreation will feature a variety of traditional lawn games that once entertained early Californians, such as wheelbarrow races, sack races and tug-of-war.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 June 2025
Verb
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While the cause and eventual outcome can be debated, the immediate impact was felt with shares of Tesla falling 14% on Thursday.—
JJ Kinahan,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
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The Senate passed the bill on a vote of 19 to 13, which happened more than 16 hours after the chamber was scheduled to debate it.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
5 June 2025
Verb
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And though regrowing entire human limbs still seems like the distant stuff of science fiction, Monaghan said studying the signaling function of retinoic acid in these amphibians could help develop new human healing methods and gene therapies.—
Kameryn Griesser,
CNN Money,
12 June 2025
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Phillippe and Brubaker both attended the University of California, Berkeley Both Brubaker and Phillippe studied at the University of California, Berkeley, for their undergraduate degrees.—
Caroline Blair,
People.com,
12 June 2025
Verb
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Some might find the introduction of a major conflict — when a different date turns nightmarish for Sophie, causing Lucy to question her certainties about what makes a good match and berate herself for failing to spot red flags — to be a heavy-handed nudge toward a resolution.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
9 June 2025
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The announcement also prompted concern among bloggers who write about Disney parks in California and Florida, who questioned the impact the restrictions could have on the thousands who visit the parks each year from Venezuela.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
8 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ponder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ponder. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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