thoughtful

adjective

thought·ful ˈthȯt-fəl

Synonyms of thoughtful

: absorbed in thought : meditative

: characterized by careful reasoned thinking

a thoughtful essay

: having thoughts : heedful

became thoughtful about religion

: given to or chosen or made with heedful anticipation of the needs and wants of others

a kind and thoughtful friend

thoughtfully

ˈthȯt-fə-lē

adverb

thoughtfulness noun

Examples of thoughtful in a Sentence

She looked at me with a thoughtful expression. He looked thoughtful for a moment. Her husband is always thoughtful. That's very thoughtful of you.

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

The addition of missing middle housing is said to provide a thoughtful addition that honors Oak Park’s character. — Cam'ron Hardy, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026 Topping the shifter is an open-pore laminated walnut knob, a thoughtful nod to iconic Porsche endurance racers like the 908 and 917. — Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026 Giamanco's family described him as thoughtful and empathetic. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026 This pliability has made the app particularly popular for casual, real-time occasions—such as finding the ideal hostess gift for a weekend visit or selecting a thoughtful token for a friend—without resorting to generic fallback options. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for thoughtful

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of thoughtful was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Thoughtful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thoughtful. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

thoughtful

adjective

thought·ful ˈthȯt-fəl

: lost in thought

: marked by careful thinking

a thoughtful essay

: considerate of the needs of others

a kind and thoughtful friend

thoughtfully

-fə-lē

adverb

thoughtfulness noun

thoughtful

adjective

Synonyms of thoughtful

Examples of thoughtful in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

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