ponder

verb

ˈpän-dər How to pronounce ponder (audio)
Definition of pondernext
as in to contemplate
to give serious and careful thought to I'm pondering whether or not I should join another committee

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word ponder different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of ponder are meditate, muse, and ruminate. While all these words mean "to consider or examine attentively or deliberately," ponder implies a careful weighing of a problem or, often, prolonged inconclusive thinking about a matter.

pondered the course of action

In what contexts can meditate take the place of ponder?

While the synonyms meditate and ponder are close in meaning, meditate implies a definite focusing of one's thoughts on something so as to understand it deeply.

meditated on the meaning of life

When would muse be a good substitute for ponder?

The synonyms muse and ponder are sometimes interchangeable, but muse suggests a more or less focused daydreaming as in remembrance.

mused upon childhood joys

When is it sensible to use ruminate instead of ponder?

The words ruminate and ponder are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ruminate implies going over the same matter in one's thoughts again and again but suggests little of either purposive thinking or rapt absorption.

ruminated on past disappointments

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 ponder The Royals pondered whether to non-tender India this offseason. —Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2026 Here are some thoughts to ponder while the boots dry. —Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026 Bailey started to consider a return to college basketball in 2025 but has pondered a possible return to the NCAA after he was drafted in 2023, according to the report. —Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026 So ponder these exits as a share of all residents. —Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ponder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ponder
  1. contemplate
  2. consider
  3. entertain
  4. debate
  5. study
  6. question
Verb
  • Collecting vinyl, clubbing at Berghain, contemplating polyamory—this is cool.
    — Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Proponents of such laws cite potential conflicts of interest between public interests and private ones, particularly when lawmakers or officials are contemplating a move from one sphere to the other.
    — Paul Egan, Freep.com, 4 Feb. 2026
Definition of contemplate
Verb
  • To strengthen the economy, Texas must rein in local spending, increase transparency, expand audits of cities, counties, and universities, and consider local spending caps so taxpayers aren’t saddled with unsustainable obligations.
    — Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Though she initially was considered missing, the urgency to quickly find Guthrie pulsed through the first days of media coverage because of her heart condition.
    — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of consider
Verb
  • View Outside’s longstanding literary storytelling tradition comes to life in audio with features that will both entertain and inform listeners.
    — Outside Online, Outside Online, 11 Feb. 2026
  • The material contained on this site is intended to inform, entertain and educate the reader and in no way represents an inducement to gamble legally or illegally or any sort of professional advice.
    — Ray Padilla, Louisville Courier Journal, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of entertain
Verb
  • Policymakers are interested too, debating whether public policy and taxpayer money should be used to propel off-site construction from niche application to a regular, if not dominant, feature of the industry.
    — Ben Christopher, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
  • While many countries still debate how electric air travel should work, China is already laying the foundation.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of debate
Verb
  • But there were always more pressing things to do than attend lectures or study rare manuscripts in the Radcliffe Camera, the beautiful circular reading room that’s the centerpiece of the Bodleian Library.
    — Richard Godwin, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The Opening Ceremony for the Milan Olympics is not until Friday, but for seasonal fans wanting to study up on who’s going for gold, hours of documentary programing in skiing, ice dancing and other sports are now available as streamers try to take a piece of the winter sports action from NBC.
    — Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of study
Verb
  • The first inkling of the government questioning the DHS account came from the US Department of Justice.
    — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026
  • The planned 90,000-square-foot project would represent the most significant change to the White House grounds in decades and is advancing even as it is challenged in court and questioned on Capitol Hill.
    — Dan Diamond, Washington Post, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of question

Browse Nearby Words

pond
ponder
ponderable
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Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on ponder

Nglish: Translation of ponder for Spanish Speakers

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