Synonyms of cogitate

cogitate

verb

ˈkä-jə-ˌtāt 

as in to contemplate

to give serious and careful thought to

by the time he finishes cogitating what to do with his life, it'll be almost over

Synonyms & Similar Words

• contemplate
• ponder
• entertain
• consider
• debate
• study
• question
• weigh
• ruminate
• eye
• explore
• analyze
• review
• meditate
• think (about or over)
• look at
• deliberate
• chew on
• mull (over)
• revolve
• wrestle (with)
• perpend
• pore (over)
• chew over
• turn
• digest
• kick around
• beat one's brains out (about)
• reminisce
• reflect (on or upon)
• cudgel one's brains (about)
• opine
• muse (upon)
• conclude
• believe
• reason
• speculate (about)
• conceive
• dwell (on or upon)
• absorb
• fixate (on or upon)
• assimilate
• fret (about or over)
• brood (about or over)
• drink (in)
• second-guess
• obsess (about or over)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignore
• slight
• disregard
• overlook
• dismiss
• reject
• pooh-pooh

Synonym Chooser

How is the word cogitate different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of cogitate are deliberate, reason, reflect, speculate, and think. While all these words mean "to use one's powers of conception, judgment, or inference," cogitate implies deep or intent thinking.

cogitated on the mysteries of nature

When is it sensible to use deliberate instead of cogitate?

The words deliberate and cogitate can be used in similar contexts, but deliberate suggests slow or careful reasoning before forming an opinion or reaching a conclusion or decision.

the jury deliberated for five hours

When might reason be a better fit than cogitate?

Although the words reason and cogitate have much in common, reason stresses consecutive logical thinking.

able to reason brilliantly in debate

When is reflect a more appropriate choice than cogitate?

In some situations, the words reflect and cogitate are roughly equivalent. However, reflect suggests unhurried consideration of something recalled to the mind.

reflecting on fifty years of married life

When can speculate be used instead of cogitate?

While in some cases nearly identical to cogitate, speculate implies reasoning about things theoretical or problematic.

speculated on the fate of the lost explorers

In what contexts can think take the place of cogitate?

The words think and cogitate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, think is general and may apply to any mental activity, but used alone often suggests attainment of clear ideas or conclusions.

teaches students how to think

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of cogitate

If there’s an algorithm directing the AI to cogitate on a close object in its field of vision, instead of wandering around in the background, that will target the attention, and decrease the energy cost of the model running. —John Werner, Forbes.com, 24 Feb. 2026

After a wild but winning January, stock market bulls have little to complain about but plenty to cogitate over. —Michael Santoli, CNBC, 2 Feb. 2026

Instead of accelerating the singular, the company’s leadership is doing like Isaacson and cogitating in logic. —Big Think, 3 Nov. 2025

What made those songs work, and these, is the sound of Byrne’s mind cogitating inside them. —Will Hermes, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2025

Yet the evidence for cogitating pond scum grows daily. —Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2024

With the eruptions and disruptions of digital mass culture as its Ferrari-level engine, often represented by the roaring drama of sport, Pfeiffer’s art cogitates on power as an ongoing campaign waged between the individual and the crowd. —Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 15 Nov. 2023

While Wall Street and Private Equity leaders have the time to leisurely cogitate the long view, business leaders (CEO’s, CMO’s, etc) have to make commitments today with real dollars based on their best guesses about the state of the consumer next fall and spring. —Greg Petro, Forbes, 22 Apr. 2022

As his characters cogitate and self-medicate, scheme and philosophize, his subject is less the content of their thoughts than the mind contemplating itself. —Washington Post, 11 June 2021