Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of meditate are muse, ponder, and ruminate. While all these words mean "to consider or examine attentively or deliberately," meditate implies a definite focusing of one's thoughts on something so as to understand it deeply.

meditated on the meaning of life

When can muse be used instead of meditate?

The meanings of muse and meditate largely overlap; however, muse suggests a more or less focused daydreaming as in remembrance.

mused upon childhood joys

Where would ponder be a reasonable alternative to meditate?

The words ponder and meditate can be used in similar contexts, but ponder implies a careful weighing of a problem or, often, prolonged inconclusive thinking about a matter.

pondered the course of action

When is ruminate a more appropriate choice than meditate?

In some situations, the words ruminate and meditate are roughly equivalent. However, 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

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 meditate Feel the need to meditate after dealing with a PDF file? New Atlas, 29 May 2025 When Kerouac joined Snyder at Marin-An in the spring of the following year, the two Beat icons meditated together and spent many hours hiking on Mount Tamalpais. Paul Liberatore, Mercury News, 23 May 2025 Hike part of the Appalachian trail, meditate by a waterfall, forest bathe, or forage for medicinal plants with a guide. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 17 Apr. 2025 Neither of the other Jedi answered, just accepted the reality of the situation, and all four moved toward the circle of meditating Jedi. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 29 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for meditate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meditate
Verb
  • While Leslie’s book is largely about Lennon, McCartney and their fruitful collaborations, contemplate what George Harrison became.
    John Tamny, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • Wright decided to come out after contemplating suicide in 2006.
    Jeff Nelson, People.com, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • However, Hwang never intended that to be the message.
    Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
  • The pop culture phenomenon features documentaries, educational programming and entertainment shows intended to celebrate and explore the biology, behavior and importance of sharks within marine ecosystems.
    Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • The Rafael Devers blockbuster is probably the biggest deal that will go down, but the temptation is there to ponder other earthshaking possibilities, no matter how remote.
    Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 11 July 2025
  • Viewing the team’s three-year stint here as an audition of sorts, officials have pondered if the local enthusiasm for baseball could help prove the Sacramento region as a welcome home for MLB.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • Harkins plans to open a second BackLot at Verrado Marketplace, a shopping mall being built in Buckeye.
    Reia Li, AZCentral.com, 12 July 2025
  • By the end of 2025, CATL plans to have 1,000 stations across 31 cities.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 July 2025
Verb
  • Ventriloquist: Marc Griffiths the ventriloquist will entertain children during a Kids Summer Reading program at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 10 at the Poway Library, 13137 Poway Road.
    Pomerado News, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 July 2025
  • Mario Lopez and his dimples have been entertaining us for about 40 years.
    Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 12 July 2025
Verb
  • But everything depends on next weekend’s figures after the arrival of the first major box office threat, and the bigger the box office impact, the faster Jurassic World’s plans for a billion dollar summer may go extinct.
    Mark Hughes, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025
  • Montgomery went 3-for-5 with the first-inning RBI triple and singles in the fourth and seventh innings in his second major-league game.
    LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 6 July 2025
Verb
  • The county had considered a flood warning system on the river similar to a tornado warning siren about six or seven years ago, but Kelly said the idea never got off the ground and the cost would have been an issue.
    Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 6 July 2025
  • The children considered missing as of Saturday were attending an all-girls Christian summer camp known as Camp Mystic.
    Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025
Verb
  • Doctors gave her a bag of medication, hoping to stabilize her liver function.
    Jordan Greene, People.com, 14 July 2025
  • Ultimately, Williams hopes readers come away from Martyr Loser King with more than aesthetic awe.
    Okla Jones, Essence, 14 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Meditate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meditate. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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