DELIBERATING Synonyms: 56 Similar and Opposite Words

deliberating

verb

present participle of deliberate

as in pondering

to give serious and careful thought to the jury deliberated the case for three days before returning a verdict

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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 deliberating After deliberating for just over an hour, the all-male, white, Protestant jury unanimously decided that 32-year-old spinster Borden didn’t commit a brazen daytime double homicide. — Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 4 Aug. 2026 The Blue Jackets and Greaves can avoid that hearing by reaching terms on a new contract any time between now and the point at which the arbitrator begins deliberating after hearing both sides’ arguments. — Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 20 July 2026 Jurors began deliberating on Monday afternoon in the guilt-innocence phase of the trial. — Star-Telegram Staff. Produced With Ai Assistance, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 July 2026 The jury returned guilty verdicts after deliberating for less than two hours, according to the Webb County District Attorney's Office. — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026 Mark Williams asked the judge Friday morning to give an Allen charge, urging the jurors to continue deliberating. — Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026 The jury in that trial was unable to reach a verdict on the charge related to Mann and a mistrial was declared, as one juror refused to continue deliberating amid hostilities among their fellow jurors. — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 25 June 2026 The jury began deliberating Wednesday morning. — Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 25 June 2026 Yes, the third branch of the US government just spent its time deliberating a legal question about our humble, underfollowed CEFs. — Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deliberating

Verb

One lucky Maryland resident might be pondering that after becoming the state's third $1 million winner in the past two weeks.

— Michelle Richardson, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Engineers spent months pondering the approach in late 2025 and early 2026, when the only antenna that was able to communicate with Voyager 2 was down for repair anyway.

— Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of pondering

Verb

In Florida, Tampa officials are also contemplating expanding its youth curfew.

— Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
With rates here already around 4% and with the Federal Reserve contemplating a rate hike later in 2026, this account could soon be even more profitable for savers.

— Matt Richardson, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of contemplating

Verb

This choice has left fans debating who or what is to blame if the movie is bad, or is not getting a big, splashy release.

— Martha Ross, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2026
Every hour spent debating where a model was built is an hour not spent building the controls that can stop this kind of incident from happening, regardless of its origin.

— Shlomo Kramer, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of debating

Verb

Steven Harmon, a Baptist theologian at Gardner-Webb University who has spent decades studying Baptist history, says much of that change stems from the way denominational labels have become intertwined with political identity.

— Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 9 Aug. 2026
Researchers studying prostate cancer discovered three cases of biopsy sample misidentification over two years, according to a 2011 research paper.

— Kim Chandler, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of studying

Verb

Inside, vaulted ceilings and deep roof overhangs define the living spaces, while a vintage bar opens to the family room and the living and dining rooms provide ample space for entertaining.

— Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 13 Aug. 2026
Yet Dunleavy had no problem entertaining the notion of trading one of the single greatest athletes in any sport, ever.

— Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of entertaining

Verb

That includes checking a student's phone records and social media posts, going door to door at the student's dorm and questioning school staff and emergency contacts.

— Sarah Horbacewicz, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
This astonishing gap left competitive automakers and Internet armchair critics questioning whether the Mustang GTD Competition was on street-legal rubber.

— Joel Feder, The Drive, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of questioning

Verb

Cities around the country are weighing tradeoffs that come with data centers that require massive amounts of power and land.

— Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
During testing, the robot moved a refrigerator weighing more than 100 pounds after training with substantially lighter loads.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of weighing

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deliberating

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“Deliberating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deliberating. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of deliberating

verb

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