ruminative

adjective

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 ruminative But the book’s ruminative watchfulness is unsuccessfully conjugated in this overly sedate play with music, which has the feel of a song cycle, though sung by the fine cast with gorgeous, lonely sorrow. — Brian Seibert, New Yorker, 19 June 2026 Their ruminative hush sets them apart in an era of instant-gratification drops. — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 15 June 2026 But as is fitting for a filmmaker pushing 80, awestruck innocence now co-exists with a more ruminative maturity, especially when touching on the secrecy, manipulation and deception of governmental power. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2026 Lily Allen, Jack Whitehall and Timothy Spall also star in Tina Gharavi's SXSW London opener, which refashions Woolf's diffuse, ruminative feminist novel into a straightforwardly inspirational tale. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 3 June 2026 And keep in mind, Dosa’s film is a ruminative and poetic love letter to a glacier, so literally and figuratively super slow moving is the perfect rollout for a film like this. — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 3 June 2026 But nearly ten years on, as the world order unravels, the exhibition’s ruminative posture comes across as toothless and unfinished. — Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026 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. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 26 Jan. 2026 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
  1. melancholy
  2. thoughtful
  3. reflective
  4. contemplative
  5. pensive
  6. meditative
Adjective
  • Blending dry Finnish humour with melancholy and unexpected warmth, ATLANTIS PASILA turns its distinctly local setting into an intimate portrait of a generation searching for connection.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Everything is infused with melancholy, the unfailing indicator of the fundamental rift between humans and their natural environment.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of melancholy
Adjective
  • Ask the direct question, write down the agreement, and leave room for a thoughtful answer.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Libra September 23 – October 22 A thoughtful message could reconnect you with the right people.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of thoughtful
Adjective
  • As the perfumery acknowledges, these collaborations allow the brand to gain exposure in other creative spheres while also creating a product that is reflective of both specialties.
    — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The evolution of Waubonsee, all three leaders insist, is reflective of the community itself.
    — Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of reflective
Adjective
  • Pilgrims walk between temples, rest in historic ryokan and keep to contemplative daily rituals that discourage mass, high-speed tourism.
    — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The pacing feels off throughout much of the film, with comic and contemplative asides gumming up the central caper.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of contemplative
Adjective
  • Or the pensive Thomas Jefferson standing in the dome across the way?
    — Matt Viser, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The pensive, prettier songs do not always play to his strengths.
    — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 30 July 2026
Definition of pensive
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, the in-cabin activities were equally soothing, with meditative coloring books, cards, board games, a yoga mat, and on-the-nose books about getting lost in nature’s beauty.
    — Madeline Bilis, Travel + Leisure, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The screenings drew a positive response from festival-goers, with many describing the experience as calming and meditative.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 July 2026
Definition of meditative

Browse Nearby Words

ruminations
ruminative
rummage
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Cite this Entry

“Ruminative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruminative. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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