as in melancholy
given to or marked by long, quiet thinking
a ruminative man, who contributed to discussions only after he had completely thought things through
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Recent Examples of ruminative
Documentarians Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard, who also gave us the ruminative Nick Cave portrait 20,000 Days on Earth (2014), use this as an elaborate framing device, the sort of oddball choice that doesn’t feel necessary yet also doesn’t detract from the goal at hand.
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David Fear, Rolling Stone, 26 Jan. 2026
Contemplating passing seasons and dead flowers, Weir’s deep, lava lamp-like flow of a vocal is as sadly ruminative as Barlow’s lyrics.
—A.d. Amorosi, Variety, 11 Jan. 2026
Set in Los Angeles, this ruminative novel alternates in perspective between a blockbuster actor, his best friend and sometime lover, and an aspiring screenwriter.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
Scarlet feels like his biggest movie yet, a ruminative war picture that stages medieval battles and pitches its characters through the mortal coil and back.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 26 Jan. 2026
Contemplating passing seasons and dead flowers, Weir’s deep, lava lamp-like flow of a vocal is as sadly ruminative as Barlow’s lyrics.
—A.d. Amorosi, Variety, 11 Jan. 2026
Set in Los Angeles, this ruminative novel alternates in perspective between a blockbuster actor, his best friend and sometime lover, and an aspiring screenwriter.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
Scarlet feels like his biggest movie yet, a ruminative war picture that stages medieval battles and pitches its characters through the mortal coil and back.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruminative
Adjective
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Not with breaking transfer news but with an umpteenth text asking what was up and, with more melancholy, why more wasn’t up and why everyone was being so frugal.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
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The experience promises to be bracingly new, chaotic, and exciting, but there was inevitably a melancholy tinge to this year’s edition, which became, in effect—and affect—an eleven-day farewell.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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And thanks to a thoughtful renovation, this particular farmhouse is ready to begin its next chapter.—
Miriam Schwartz,
Hartford Courant,
8 Feb. 2026
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In his view, growth means extending the reach of a thoughtful approach while preserving the personal relationships that define his work.—
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Sweat If the film looks moist and the surfaces looks reflective, that’s exactly the look Fennell and Davies were going for.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
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Congress should take a practical, comprehensive approach that strengthens border security while creating an immigration system that is orderly, humane, and reflective of our values.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Less inviting and contemplative than aggressive and giddy, its priority isn’t to ask the audience to step outside their own perspective and examine how their behavior may contribute to similar hostilities.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
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That is really the reason for engaging in contemplative practices.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Social butterfly Venus and pensive Chiron are waltzing through your learning zone and your social sector, showing off just how much your friends can teach you — purposefully or not.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Feb. 2026
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Volpe never pushes for emotional effect, showing restraint with her use of Oliver Coates’ melancholy, pensive score.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Rooms feel like a cozy meditative retreat precisely because the communal spaces pulse with vibrant NYC energy.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
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In addition to typical drug and mental health treatment, meditative walking paths are planned, including one through the property’s Spanish-style courtyard and another to the top of a hill that contains a statue of Jesus overlooking the city.—
Andrew Khouri,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ruminative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruminative. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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