contemplative

adjective

kən-ˈtem-plə-tiv How to pronounce contemplative (audio)
Definition of contemplativenext
as in thoughtful
given to or marked by long, quiet thinking a contemplative person who likes to go on solitary walks the contemplative life of the monks at the abbey

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 contemplative In a voice at once biting and contemplative, eerie and funny, Kasischke crafts poems in which nothing is ever stable or resolved. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 The Sisters embody a unique culture of prayer, silence, solitude and community, living in a contemplative and cloistered order. — Kelly Wilkinson, IndyStar, 27 Aug. 2026 After that feral beginning, the rest of the album is mostly contemplative, wistful, and understated, amid cascading guitars and various sounds that are at times acoustic or gently swirling. — Steve Appleford, SPIN, 25 Aug. 2026 Pilgrims walk between temples, rest in historic ryokan and keep to contemplative daily rituals that discourage mass, high-speed tourism. — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for contemplative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contemplative
  1. thoughtful
  2. melancholy
  3. reflective
  4. meditative
  5. pensive
  6. philosophical
Adjective
  • The service Enthusiastic, thoughtful, and caring, the service here is warm and heartfelt.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • As Toby Ziegler and Josiah Bartlett could tell you, the only way to change is the world is with a small group of thoughtful and committed citizens.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of thoughtful
Adjective
  • Viard describes the melancholy of her post-Chanel life in detail, describing herself as a ghost, haunted by the presence of Lagerfeld’s memory.
    — Olivier Bouchara, Vanity Fair, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The fading studio carries a note of melancholy about the state of the film industry as AI advances.
    — Jenny S. Li, Variety, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of melancholy
Adjective
  • This in-shower treatment smooths the cuticle for reflective, glass-like shine, leaving strands softer, silkier, and ultra-glossy in just one minute.
    — Madison San Miguel, Allure, 6 Oct. 2026
  • De Baise explained that this is reflective of a popular footwear trend of the ’90s, a decade Vaccarello is widely known to be aesthetically attached to.
    — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of reflective
Adjective
  • Through a meditative duet between the performer’s cognition and their autonomic nervous system, activities that were largely imperceptible to an outside observer became known to the performer.
    — Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Guides recommend doing it three or more times to settle into a more meditative state of mind.
    — Lilit Marcus, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of meditative
Adjective
  • Enough with the pensive mood pieces; bring back the pie f**king!
    — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Reddington sat pensive, drumming his fingers on the defense table.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of pensive
Adjective
  • The problem of longevity possesses philosophical and practical contradictions, now heightened by the gradual disappearance of artists of Serra’s generation and the uncertain posthumous legacy of their work.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Becca Rothfeld reports from the (surprisingly philosophical) Pro-Human Assembly.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of philosophical

Browse Nearby Words

contemplations
contemplative
contemporaneous
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Contemplative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contemplative. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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