RUMINATE Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of ruminate are meditate , muse , and ponder . While all these words mean "to consider or examine attentively or deliberately," 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

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

While in some cases nearly identical to ruminate , 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 'muse' be a better fit than 'ruminate'?

The synonyms muse and ruminate are sometimes interchangeable, but muse suggests a more or less focused daydreaming as in remembrance. // mused upon childhood joys

Q: When is 'ponder' a more appropriate choice than 'ruminate'?

Although the words ponder and ruminate have much in common, ponder implies a careful weighing of a problem or, often, prolonged inconclusive thinking about a matter. // pondered the course of action

ruminate

verb

ˈrü-mə-ˌnāt

Definition of ruminate next

as in to ponder

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Some common synonyms of ruminate are meditate, muse, and ponder. While all these words mean "to consider or examine attentively or deliberately," 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

When is it sensible to use meditate instead of ruminate?

While in some cases nearly identical to ruminate, 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 muse be a better fit than ruminate?

The synonyms muse and ruminate are sometimes interchangeable, but muse suggests a more or less focused daydreaming as in remembrance.

mused upon childhood joys

When is ponder a more appropriate choice than ruminate?

Although the words ponder and ruminate have much in common, ponder implies a careful weighing of a problem or, often, prolonged inconclusive thinking about a matter.

pondered the course of action

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 ruminate The chairman says these drives give him time to ruminate. —

Anu Raghunathan, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024 Taking to the stage for a second time, once again with his charismatic star Jason Patel, co-director Floyd ruminated on the film’s appeal. —

Damon Wise, Deadline, 7 Oct. 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 Watch your media diet: Ask yourself how much news and media exposure is sufficient to keep you informed and how much will lead you to spiral and ruminate. —

Noma Nazish, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ruminate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruminate

Verb

Chalamet spends an hour in the house, sitting in the very bedroom where a young Robert Zimmerman gazed out at snowy ground and pondered his future.

Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2024
Gallego’s better standing with Arizona voters is more than a mirror image of Republican Kari Lake’s relatively weak pull with GOP voters and will invite extra scrutiny as Democrats ponder their future after an electoral beating.

Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 9 Nov. 2024