COGITATE Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

cogitate

verb

ˈkä-jə-ˌtāt

Definition of cogitate next

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

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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

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 cogitate 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 Dyson presents mathematical arguments that these beings can, through shrewd conservation of energy, maintain the resources needed to survive, cogitate and communicate in an eternally expanding cosmos. —

John Horgan, Scientific American, 16 June 2021 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 Jermaine uncovers America's obsession with capitalism and its cogitating impact on his everyday decision making, as well as those around him. —

Michael Saponara, Billboard, 20 Apr. 2018 Penrose believes that Hawking's condition has forced him to work more creatively, to take imaginative leaps where someone with a less uncertain future might want to cogitate a little longer. —

Jerry Adler, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2018 But Long, one of the revelers, (Ensemble regular James Rankin, always terrific) has been cogitating, too -- about their lot in life. —

Andrea Simakis, cleveland.com, 9 Dec. 2017

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cogitate

Verb

Four days after the crash, the agencies were already contemplating misdemeanor charges, according to a text conversation between Fernandez Rundle and FWC Lt. Col. Alfredo Escanio, the deputy director of the south region.

Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025
Cooper, however, barely contemplated leaving him at home and that, perhaps more than anything, summed up the bond between manager and player.

Daniel Taylor, The Athletic, 2 Jan. 2025