as in melancholy
given to or marked by long, quiet thinking
rainy days often put her in a pensive mood
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pensive
Martin appears pensive in the sunny shot, while Apple posed with her head resting in her hand.
—
Bailey Richards, People.com, 2 Mar. 2025
The musician showcased the pensive track, which references Nashville venue Robert’s Western World, on an acoustic guitar, offering an intimate rendition that befits his current solo tour.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2025
Arriving at the Berlinale for the world premiere of Hong’s latest film, What Does that Nature Say to You, Kwon tells Deadline that he is drawn to Hong’s distinct long-take, pensive style, which repeatedly offers a fresh and liberating challenge for him as an actor.
—Sara Merican, Deadline, 22 Feb. 2025
Yet the film is not pensive enough to exist as a strictly meditative art house piece.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 31 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pensive
Bailey Richards, People.com, 2 Mar. 2025
The musician showcased the pensive track, which references Nashville venue Robert’s Western World, on an acoustic guitar, offering an intimate rendition that befits his current solo tour.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2025
Arriving at the Berlinale for the world premiere of Hong’s latest film, What Does that Nature Say to You, Kwon tells Deadline that he is drawn to Hong’s distinct long-take, pensive style, which repeatedly offers a fresh and liberating challenge for him as an actor.
—Sara Merican, Deadline, 22 Feb. 2025
Yet the film is not pensive enough to exist as a strictly meditative art house piece.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 31 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pensive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pensive
Adjective
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The Welsh quartet’s Dead Meat follow-up takes DNA from the Smiths’ melancholy exuberance, the Go-Betweens’ windswept gusto, and gung-ho London punk fervor to formulate a disempowered power-pop that spins insecurity and grief into bundles of melodic joy.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
7 Mar. 2025
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Luckily, Pattinson manages to keep things buoyant without diluting the late-capitalism metaphors or the melancholy existentialism.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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By combining modern tools like AI with a thoughtful approach to skills and criteria, organizations can move beyond surface-level signals and discover hidden talent.—
Ishan Gupta,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
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For Gabrielle, the experience was a reminder of the profound impact of small, thoughtful gestures.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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When the organization signed rapper Jay-Z’s Roc Nation in 2019, the performances narrowed further, centering around hip-hop while shunting aside rock, country, pop and other music genres that are also reflective of America’s melting pot.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Mar. 2025
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The finale might be reflective of LaBruce’s own skepticism, specifically his disdain for large-scale movements that advocate for a tidy future and his preference for the ideas of French philosopher and poet Jean Genet.—
P.E. Moskowitz,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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East of Gatesville, outside Waco, is a convent of contemplative Catholic nuns, the Sisters of Mary Morning Star.—
Lawrence Wright,
The New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2025
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Qing Bao, known among zookeepers as a shy and contemplative panda, spent time on her climbing gym before sitting down to enjoy the bamboo special.—
Christopher Cann,
USA TODAY,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Party leaders asked their members ahead of the address to maintain a dignified and somber presence in the chamber during Trump's speech.—
Barbara Sprunt,
NPR,
6 Mar. 2025
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The mix of Black trauma and White philanthropy created a peculiar vibe in the event space, at once somber and thrilling, mournful and hopeful.—
Nicholas Lalla,
WIRED,
4 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pensive. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
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