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

The notion of the artist/muse relationship isn’t anything new in 2024 or ever in creative history. —

Katherine Singh, refinery29.com, 23 Dec. 2024 Women’s Wear Daily will be honoring the fashion and beauty tastemakers, muses and legends whose creativity, craft and style create magic on the red carpet at the inaugural WWD Style Awards presented Jan. 3 at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills. —

Wwd Staff, WWD, 23 Dec. 2024

Verb

Trump earlier this week irked Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum with comments suggesting the Gulf of Mexico be renamed the Gulf of America and has mused about retaking the Panama Canal. —

Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 9 Jan. 2025 The brutally cutting five-time Globes host mused on X about the prospect on Friday and came up with an idea. —

James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for muse

Recent Examples of Synonyms for muse

Noun

Guided by the voice of Pulitzer-winning poet Gwendolyn Brooks, the solo work uses history, memory and poetry.

— Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 16 Jan. 2025
Nature Friends Clubhouse Was Known For Its Transcendent Happenings Nature Friends is cherished as a bucolic haven that has transformed lives, according to its diverse membership that includes artists, musicians, poets, writers, sculptors, dancers, healers, families and canyon dwellers.

— R. Daniel Foster, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025