ruminative

adjective

Definition of ruminativenext
as in melancholy
given to or marked by long, quiet thinking a ruminative man, who contributed to discussions only after he had completely thought things through

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruminative
  1. melancholy
  2. thoughtful
  3. reflective
  4. contemplative
  5. pensive
  6. meditative
Adjective
  • The Heat’s 36-point loss to the NBA’s fifth-worst team over the weekend marked their third-largest home defeat in the last two decades and kept them hovering around .500 as a melancholy cloud hangs over the franchise’s head.
    James Jackson, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
  • The melancholy song reaches a new high on both the Billboard Global 200 and the Billboard Global Excl.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025
Definition of melancholy
Adjective
  • And having more thoughtful conversations doesn’t preclude the need sometimes to confront those who are needlessly cruel or organizations that benefit from such exploitation.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 18 Jan. 2025
  • Employers consistently emphasize the value of hiring individuals with a broad knowledge base who can collaborate to solve problems, engage in thoughtful debate, communicate clearly, and think critically—skills that liberal-arts programs rigorously cultivate.
    Sarah Hernholm, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
Definition of thoughtful
Adjective
  • For years, experts have noted that these measurements are not standardized, can vary by day and time, and are not reflective of a person's overall fluoride exposure.
    Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 7 Jan. 2025
  • Charly's playful knack for finding the best lounging spots is reflective of the breed's charming characteristics.
    Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025
Definition of reflective
Adjective
  • The French fashion house reunited with Sarah Jones, known for her contemplative large-scale color photographs of subjects such as empty therapists’ couches.
    Joelle Diderich, WWD, 2 Jan. 2025
  • It’s been a mainstay on every bike ride, long walk, and contemplative moment of mine this year.
    Vogue, Vogue, 24 Dec. 2024
Definition of contemplative
Adjective
  • Melodically, this pensive, pop-tinged ballad makes the most of Wallen’s polished falsetto and heartfelt vocal rendering.
    Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 6 Jan. 2025
  • The songs are muscular and syncretic as ever, but the normally peevish rapper doesn’t maintain his trolling energy for the full record, settling into a questioning and pensive pace.
    Stephen Kearse, TIME, 8 Dec. 2024
Definition of pensive
Adjective
  • Paying attention to your breathing, the rhythm of your steps, or the sounds around you can transform a simple walk into a meditative experience that clears your mind and centers your thoughts.
    Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 10 Jan. 2025
  • Gabriel’s efforts to determine why he’s been recruited – and untangle his past – move the story beyond James Bond tropes into more surprising and meditative territory.
    Staff, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Jan. 2025
Definition of meditative
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near ruminative

ruminations

ruminative

rummage

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Cite this Entry

“Ruminative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruminative. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

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