as in pondering
to give serious and careful thought to
the minister hoped that the congregation would spend the remainder of the week ruminating the message of his sermon
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 ruminating
For instance, a depressed person may feel better in terms of their energy and sleep, but still have negative, ruminating thoughts.
—
Charles Trepany, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024
People filled comment sections for videos and posts about the shooting with unsympathetic replies, pointing out UnitedHealthcare’s reputation for denying claims, and ruminating on how much suffering Thompson was responsible for at the helm of the company.
—Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 11 Dec. 2024
Murphy, who won reelection for a third term last month, has spent the past month ruminating over Democrats’ losses across the country and over where the party may have gone wrong.
—Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 4 Dec. 2024
The video was filmed at Van Dyke’s Malibu home and features the actor, known for his roles in classic movies Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, ruminating about age, family, and love.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 6 Dec. 2024
This default to pessimism translates to tendencies like ducking praise while soaking up criticism, or ruminating on negative experiences longer than savouring positive ones.
—Ellen Choi, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024
This may involve ruminating about an issue with an employee, trying to think of a solution to a client problem, or creating a mental to-do list for the next day.
—Remy E. Jennings,
allison S. Gabriel,
klodiana Lanaj, Harvard Business Review, 3 Jan. 2024
There’s no sense in ruminating on things or people that are unavailable to you in the present moment.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2024
The shocking moment came out of co-creators Konrad Kay and Mickey Down ruminating on the idea of repercussions.
—Louis Staples, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2024
Charles Trepany, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024
People filled comment sections for videos and posts about the shooting with unsympathetic replies, pointing out UnitedHealthcare’s reputation for denying claims, and ruminating on how much suffering Thompson was responsible for at the helm of the company.
—Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 11 Dec. 2024
Murphy, who won reelection for a third term last month, has spent the past month ruminating over Democrats’ losses across the country and over where the party may have gone wrong.
—Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 4 Dec. 2024
The video was filmed at Van Dyke’s Malibu home and features the actor, known for his roles in classic movies Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, ruminating about age, family, and love.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 6 Dec. 2024
This default to pessimism translates to tendencies like ducking praise while soaking up criticism, or ruminating on negative experiences longer than savouring positive ones.
—Ellen Choi, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024
This may involve ruminating about an issue with an employee, trying to think of a solution to a client problem, or creating a mental to-do list for the next day.
—Remy E. Jennings,
allison S. Gabriel,
klodiana Lanaj, Harvard Business Review, 3 Jan. 2024
There’s no sense in ruminating on things or people that are unavailable to you in the present moment.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2024
The shocking moment came out of co-creators Konrad Kay and Mickey Down ruminating on the idea of repercussions.
—Louis Staples, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruminating
Verb
-
While producers pondering where to set their next movie will surely be tempted, this does come at a time when those in Hollywood especially are desperate to bring production back to home shores.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
14 Mar. 2025
-
Murphy, who has launched a group called the American EV Jobs Alliance to try to build bipartisan support for electric vehicles, has spent years pondering why more Republicans won't buy them.—
Camila Domonoske,
NPR,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Meanwhile, 61% of medical students are contemplating careers outside clinical practice, viewing medical school as a stepping stone to other fields in healthcare.—
Richard Menger MD MPA,
Forbes,
22 Dec. 2024
-
Scott’s giving has important guidance not only for billionaires who want to follow her example and ramp up their giving, but also for everyday donors – and investors — who may be contemplating year-end decisions.—
David Bowermaster,
Forbes,
20 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The rule could have prevented the government from considering important health research in setting pollution limits.—
Eric Nost,
The Conversation,
8 Jan. 2025
-
Robert Saleh, former New York Jets head coach This might be the most popular hire among fans, considering that Saleh ran the 49ers’ 2019 defense, the unit the team has aspired to match ever since.—
Matt Barrows,
The Athletic,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The house had multiple assets, including a grand entrance, original details, a welcoming front porch and a two-story carriage house that offered additional space for entertaining.—
Lana Bortolot,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Again, sight lines within the home are extended, making this the area perfect for entertaining groups of all sizes, including large parties.—
James Alexander,
Hartford Courant,
30 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Despite more positive reports in previous months, concerns remain about the economic outlook, leaving policymakers and businesses questioning whether the downturn in confidence will translate to slower growth in 2024.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
24 Dec. 2024
-
Singing on the beach under the stars may not stop people (or me) from questioning the legitimacy of my Asian identity, but these moments bond me to the community and culture of my grandparents.—
Acacia Gabriel,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Truly pocket sized and weighing just 165g, FiiO says this is the ideal travel companion thanks to 12 hours of battery life and a two-hour fast-charge mode.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes,
5 Jan. 2025
-
This 2,000-tonne contraption would be lowered on a string of pipe weighing 2,000 tonnes, and grapple the wreck weighing 4,000 tonnes.—
David Szondy,
New Atlas,
4 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ruminating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruminating. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share