1
as in meditation
long or deep thinking about spiritual matters
the decision to enter a monastery and to spend one's life in prayer and contemplation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in anticipation
the act or state of looking forward to some occurrence
in contemplation of their children's college expenses, they started saving early
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 contemplation
For so many of our entertainment heroes, considering their legacy is more about contemplation than unabashed celebration.
—
Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 10 Feb. 2025
The monastery is also home to pink-robe-wearing novice monks, who train at Taung Kalat, and yetis, or hermit monks, who glide in their peaked caps in quiet contemplation across the precariously balanced complex.
—Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Jan. 2025
This is followed by solitary Bible study and contemplation.
—Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
At the other end of Eilean Mòr, past a mossy Celtic cross standing like a lighthouse at the island’s tallest point, Sandy showed us the Cave of Saint Cormac, its opening hardly more than four feet high, where eighth-century monks used to retreat for periods of secluded contemplation.
—Leslie Jamison, Travel + Leisure, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contemplation
Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 10 Feb. 2025
The monastery is also home to pink-robe-wearing novice monks, who train at Taung Kalat, and yetis, or hermit monks, who glide in their peaked caps in quiet contemplation across the precariously balanced complex.
—Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Jan. 2025
This is followed by solitary Bible study and contemplation.
—Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
At the other end of Eilean Mòr, past a mossy Celtic cross standing like a lighthouse at the island’s tallest point, Sandy showed us the Cave of Saint Cormac, its opening hardly more than four feet high, where eighth-century monks used to retreat for periods of secluded contemplation.
—Leslie Jamison, Travel + Leisure, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contemplation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contemplation
Noun
-
At the time, the outlet also claimed that the two attended daily meditation sessions.—
Esther Kang,
People.com,
22 Mar. 2025
-
One of the best LPs of that year, the music explored our ongoing ecological emergency, mustering up personal meditations from inside the climate crisis.—
Sheldon Pearce,
The New Yorker,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
On the other side of the corridor, global fashion’s most important tastemakers wait with anticipation.—
Courtney Crowder,
USA TODAY,
22 Mar. 2025
-
The film’s first trailer release sparks new backlash, this time around its stars’ political leanings Instead of enthusiasm and anticipation for the movie, Disney’s first official Snow White trailer drop incurred the wrath of fans on either side of the Israel-Palestine conflict.—
Krystie Lee Yandoli,
Rolling Stone,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
This is where optimism or high expectations for the dawning season would be so far-fetched as to be preposterous.—
Greg Cote,
Miami Herald,
21 Mar. 2025
-
However, this mindset is suffocating and often only leads to further anxiety, stress and unrealistic expectations.—
Kent Ingle,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contemplation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contemplation. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share