CONTEMPLATING Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

contemplating

verb

present participle of contemplate

as in pondering

to give serious and careful thought to she contemplated the problem for several hours before reaching a decision

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in planning

to have in mind as a purpose or goal he waited patiently, contemplating revenge all the while

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 contemplating Moreno, who in 2003 became baseball’s first Latino owner, was still contemplating a potential exit strategy, according to new club president Molly Jolly. — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026 In 2023, the Miami Herald reported that Díaz-Canel told a room of Cuban American businesspeople that the Cuban government was contemplating letting Cuban Americans invest in and own businesses on the island, and was working on legislation to do it. — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026 The central bank, meanwhile, is contemplating raising interest rates later this year, potentially issuing its first hike since 2023. — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 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 Just pulsing in their Petri dishes, contemplating moral relativity or migraines. — Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 20 Aug. 2026 My parents, contemplating their mortality, decided to relocate from the Pacific Northwest to an apartment near me. — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2026 Maceta stood contemplating the invincible green of the pastureland. — Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026 In Florida, Tampa officials are also contemplating expanding its youth curfew. — Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contemplating

Verb

Kronengold and Shaw are still pondering what will come of that if Adults gets to be renewed.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026
Instead, the fast-casual restaurant chain's CEO and co-founder woke up pondering the country's ongoing cyclospora outbreak.

— Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of pondering

Verb

Scenario planning moves from an annual event to a quarterly discipline.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
The festival will also open one day earlier than in previous years, on Tuesday, October 6, giving audiences greater flexibility in planning their visits and screenings.

— Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of planning

Verb

Travelers who are considering booking one of these flights can use websites like SkyAccess, which posts available empty leg inventory for flights weeks or months in advance.

— Elliott Harrell, Travel + Leisure, 3 Sep. 2026
The goalkeeping department has probably been downgraded, considering the highly promising Trafford left, and was replaced by Geronimo Rulli, a solid backup option at 34 years of age.

— Sam Lee, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of considering

Verb

Procapil brings biotinoyl tripeptide-1 together with botanical ingredients that help fortify follicles and anchor hair at the root, while Capixyl combines acetyl tetrapeptide-3 with red clover extract for stronger, denser-looking hair.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Aug. 2026
Just when things are looking dire for John and Sarah, the T-800 reboots on auxiliary power and shoots the T-1000 with a grenade launcher.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of looking

Verb

Greyson said nearly five decades of studying near-death experiences has convinced him there is probably something after death.

— Michael Collins, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
After studying hospitality in Switzerland and working in New York with chef Daniel Boulud, Kfoury returned to Lebanon, only to live through another war in 2006.

— Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of studying

Verb

His government has consistently avoided criticizing Morocco, but Sánchez condemned comments from two Moroccan ministers questioning the sovereignty of Ceuta and Melilla, another Spain's other territory in North Africa.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
But the design quickly sparked backlash and support online, with some applauding the farm's call for civil discourse and others questioning why Kirk was chosen as the face of one of the attraction's biggest annual draws.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of questioning

Browse Nearby Words

contemplates

contemplating

contemplation

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Contemplating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contemplating. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of contemplating

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

apiary

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes