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 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 Whereas Aroma-Zone feels closer to a place of discovery with time to peruse and ponder. — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026 Lupoi isn’t a guy who spends his evenings pondering philosophy or splitting atoms. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026 Blumstein came up with the idea for the OnlyFans account while sitting in a meadow, waiting for marmots to appear and pondering the state of scientific funding for his work. — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 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
  • Earlier, writer-director Lanctôt won two prizes at Venice in 1984 for her first feature, Sonatine, about two teenage girls contemplating suicide.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The siblings may argue that the current transaction implements the type of sale that Jeanie and the trustees contemplated in the tag-along provision.
    — Mirin Fader, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of contemplate
Verb
  • Takaichi's remark crossed what China considers a red line in its relations with other countries about Taiwan, which is a self-governing island that Beijing claims as its territory.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Last week, amid trade talks with the US, Carney asked premiers to consider bringing US alcohol back to store shelves in hopes of reaching a deal.
    — Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of consider
Verb
  • Steel Pier still entertains families, and the wooden walkway remains a tradition for many families.
    — Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Adults can share the duties of handing out snacks and keeping kids entertained.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of entertain
Verb
  • Supporters are circulating clips of Ossoff’s speeches, debating his prospects against other potential 2028 Democratic contenders and increasingly comparing his trajectory with Obama’s rapid rise from the Senate to the White House.
    — Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Opportunities are delayed because organizations are debating whose numbers are correct rather than deciding what actions to take.
    — Ashraf Altawashi, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of debate
Verb
  • By comparison, the US – with only a quarter of China’s population – has a larger pool of around 4 million, roughly estimated by Peter Jaworski, a professor at Georgetown University who studies the ethics and economics of the plasma business.
    — CNN Staff, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The link between warm nights and poor sleep has been studied for years.
    — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of study
Verb
  • Critics of the strikes have questioned the overall legality as well as their effectiveness.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Economists question whether the credit would attract new work or mostly subsidize projects that would have stayed in California anyway.
    — Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of question

Browse Nearby Words

pond
ponder
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Cite this Entry

“Ponder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ponder. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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