Thesaurus results for MUSE

Q: How is the word 'muse' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of muse are meditate , ponder , and ruminate . While all these words mean "to consider or examine attentively or deliberately," muse suggests a more or less focused daydreaming as in remembrance. // mused upon childhood joys

Q: When is it sensible to use 'meditate' instead of 'muse'?

While in some cases nearly identical to muse , meditate implies a definite focusing of one's thoughts on something so as to understand it deeply. // meditated on the meaning of life

Q: When might 'ponder' be a better fit than 'muse'?

The meanings of ponder and muse largely overlap; however, ponder implies a careful weighing of a problem or, often, prolonged inconclusive thinking about a matter. // pondered the course of action

Q: Where would 'ruminate' be a reasonable alternative to 'muse'?

While the synonyms ruminate and muse are close in meaning, ruminate implies going over the same matter in one's thoughts again and again but suggests little of either purposive thinking or rapt absorption. // ruminated on past disappointments

muse 1 of 2

noun

Definition of muse next

as in poet

a person who writes poetry where is the muse who will sing of this man's great and noble deeds?

Synonyms & Similar Words

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muse

2 of 2

verb

as in to ruminate

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Some common synonyms of muse are meditate, ponder, and ruminate. While all these words mean "to consider or examine attentively or deliberately," muse suggests a more or less focused daydreaming as in remembrance.

mused upon childhood joys

When is it sensible to use meditate instead of muse?

While in some cases nearly identical to muse, meditate implies a definite focusing of one's thoughts on something so as to understand it deeply.

meditated on the meaning of life

When might ponder be a better fit than muse?

The meanings of ponder and muse largely overlap; however, ponder implies a careful weighing of a problem or, often, prolonged inconclusive thinking about a matter.

pondered the course of action

Where would ruminate be a reasonable alternative to muse?

While the synonyms ruminate and muse are close in meaning, ruminate implies going over the same matter in one's thoughts again and again but suggests little of either purposive thinking or rapt absorption.

ruminated on past disappointments

Examples 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 muse

Noun

Our editors turned to the many muses of the decade — from Winona Ryder’s devil-may-care leather looks to Naomi Campbell’s downtown-meets-uptown girl aura — to create these ’90s fall outfit ideas that feature Coach’s best purses of the season. —

Claire Sullivan, WWD, 8 Oct. 2024 In the beginning, there was just one, unnamed, muse. —

Alison Habens, JSTOR Daily, 31 Oct. 2024

Verb

And many have mused over the morality of autonomous weapons, which could take lives without any human input or direction. —

Sage Lazzaro, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2024 Trump and others pressured the network — Baier played a part, musing that the network should switch the call — but Arnon Mishkin, the director of the decision desk, stood firm. —

Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for muse

Recent Examples of Synonyms for muse

Noun

Moreover, the poet makes Pheidippides into a romantic hero, cut down tragically on the threshold of adulthood.

Miriam Kamil, JSTOR Daily, 20 Nov. 2024
Recognized as one of India’s, and perhaps the world’s 50 most influential people, Sadhguru is a yogi, mystic, environmental activist, poet, and the bestselling author of over thirty books.

Mandeep Rai, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024