weigh

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb weigh differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of weigh are consider, contemplate, and study. While all these words mean "to think about in order to arrive at a judgment or decision," weigh implies attempting to reach the truth or arrive at a decision by balancing conflicting claims or evidence.

weigh the pros and cons of the case

When might consider be a better fit than weigh?

The words consider and weigh can be used in similar contexts, but consider may suggest giving thought to in order to reach a suitable conclusion, opinion, or decision.

refused even to consider my proposal

When is contemplate a more appropriate choice than weigh?

Although the words contemplate and weigh have much in common, contemplate stresses focusing one's thoughts on something but does not imply coming to a conclusion or decision.

contemplate the consequences of refusing

When could study be used to replace weigh?

The words study and weigh are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, study implies sustained purposeful concentration and attention to details and minutiae.

study the plan closely

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 weigh Studies linking early play with serious health consequences contributed to a drop in participation, and some states weighed banning the activity for those under a certain age. Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 5 Aug. 2025 Westergaard said the state made the decision not to release their vaccination status after weighing the individuals' right to privacy against the public's right to know. Sarah Volpenhein, jsonline.com, 5 Aug. 2025 She was born under bombardment in May 2024, weighing just 4.5 pounds. Ghada Abdulfattah, The Atlantic, 5 Aug. 2025 Kepler’s harmonic law acts as a scale to weigh celestial bodies. Andrej Prša, Space.com, 4 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for weigh
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weigh
Verb
  • Whatever happened before Tuesday night mattered little, and what happens from here is a story for another night.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2025
  • And his confessional episode intros, which tackle matters as mundane as the latest cat updates and as wrenching as the death of his late partner, director Lynn Shelton, have cultivated a unique bond with many who contribute to his 55 million in annual listens.
    Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Michael Bier of Foul Territory TV also pondered a division with the Royals, Rangers, Astros and Cardinals.
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 2025
  • Thomas and Irish director Mark Cousins pondered over the state of the film industry during a 90-minute conversation, which also covered Harvey Weinstein, Harry Cohn and Thomas’ time spent with some of the biggest filmmakers in history.
    Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Few players mean as much to their clubs and fanbases as Alonso does to the Mets.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2025
  • And that's a major problem for anyone who's not used to having turn signals on their bike (meaning almost everyone).
    JOHN TIMMER, ArsTechnica, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Even the budget-friendly Igloo, which doesn’t perform at the same level as a rotomolded cooler, did quite well considering its price point.
    Francesca Krempa, Bon Appetit Magazine, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Sometime in their discussions, McVay began to embrace a new, holistic view of the game; zooming out before each matchup to consider an opponent’s history, coaching philosophy and the connective tissue between its offense, defense and special teams.
    Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Hodges has been contemplating his future, talking with God to figure things out.
    La Risa R. Lynch, jsonline.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • The bottom line is downright depressing: short of a direct U.S. military intervention that no serious analyst would contemplate, Trump’s toolkit to will a Ukraine peace deal into existence is bare.
    Daniel DePetris, Time, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Ohio lawmakers debated everything from home grow restrictions to penalizing passengers who smoke in the car.
    Haley BeMiller, The Enquirer, 17 Aug. 2025
  • And Just Like That … Club, our subscriber-exclusive newsletter obsessing over, dissecting, and debating everything about season three.
    Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Yet, Trump’s measured tone with Zelenskyy and willingness to entertain significant U.S. involvement in a post-war security arrangement were notable after his chummy summit with Putin, heartening supporters of Ukraine.
    Zac Anderson, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025
  • But what may have shifted is President Donald Trump's patience to entertain steadfast Russian demands.
    Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Parents had questioned the safety of the roof installation and associated smells, prompting the district to conduct air quality tests, according to an Aug. 1 letter to parents.
    Erick Trevino, AZCentral.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • The crowd also questioned the president's approach to immigration enforcement.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 7 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Weigh.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weigh. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.

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