as in contemplates
to give serious and careful thought to
I'm pondering whether or not I should join another committee
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Recent Examples of ponders
As coach John Hynes ponders his Game 1 starter, the recent numbers will show that Wallstedt has allowed a total of four goals in his final two regular-season starts, while veteran Filip Gustavsson has been touched for 10 in the same span.
—
Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 15 Apr. 2026
While Heinrich ponders the misfiring neurons in the brain of a mass shooter, Jack’s pursuit of Mink—a character whose skin color and ambiguous ethnicity Jack remarks on repeatedly—leads him directly into the urban teeth of the War on Drugs.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Who ever ponders the conveniences of that 20th century innovation, the airplane, that makes 21st century hustle possible?
—Bill Barrow, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Who ever ponders the conveniences of that 20th-century innovation, the airplane, that makes 21st-century hustle possible?
—CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
That novel ponders the problem of a great artist, or someone we’re invited to believe is a great artist, tangled in the moral compromises of making art under the conditions of the Third Reich.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
The new season of The Comeback arrives in 2026, perhaps the most perilous time Hollywood has ever faced as the town anxiously ponders how AI might shape, or decimate, the industry in the coming years.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, Derek’s mother-in-law visits, and Paul ponders his legacy.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2026
Expect a meditative film that ponders big issues with a poet-like touch.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 15 Apr. 2026
While Heinrich ponders the misfiring neurons in the brain of a mass shooter, Jack’s pursuit of Mink—a character whose skin color and ambiguous ethnicity Jack remarks on repeatedly—leads him directly into the urban teeth of the War on Drugs.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Who ever ponders the conveniences of that 20th century innovation, the airplane, that makes 21st century hustle possible?
—Bill Barrow, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Who ever ponders the conveniences of that 20th-century innovation, the airplane, that makes 21st-century hustle possible?
—CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
That novel ponders the problem of a great artist, or someone we’re invited to believe is a great artist, tangled in the moral compromises of making art under the conditions of the Third Reich.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
The new season of The Comeback arrives in 2026, perhaps the most perilous time Hollywood has ever faced as the town anxiously ponders how AI might shape, or decimate, the industry in the coming years.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, Derek’s mother-in-law visits, and Paul ponders his legacy.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2026
Expect a meditative film that ponders big issues with a poet-like touch.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ponders
Verb
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For one, state law contemplates the state of Wisconsin—and not private residents—as being able to lawfully operate a lottery in Wisconsin.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
21 Apr. 2026
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Jessie Buckley stars as the Young Woman — her name and occupation changing frequently — who contemplates ending her seven-week relationship during a Thanksgiving trip to meet her boyfriend Jake's (Jesse Plemons) parents at their farmhouse.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The analysis ranks each of the city’s 37 library branches and 56 recreation centers based on what the report considers its importance to the nearby community and uses those rankings to provide the City Council with possible scenarios.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
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The report also considers which shades best complement the drapey, lightweight fabrications gaining traction in the market.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Umbrellas are dotting the viewing area as a Marine band entertains guests.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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Activities To understand how MharoKhet connects the farm to the plate, sign up for the daily, complimentary farm walk that both educates and entertains.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Senate typically debates and passes its budget in the week before Memorial Day.—
State House News Service,
Boston Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
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Early voting in the midterm primaries starts Monday in Georgia, and voters were given a chance to see all the Republican hopefuls on one stage at the Atlanta Press Club debates Sunday.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ponders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ponders. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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