brooding 1 of 2

present participle of brood
as in sitting
to cover and warm eggs as the young inside develop don't disturb the hen while she's brooding

Synonyms & Similar Words

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brooding

2 of 2

adjective

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 brooding
Verb
Where Conrad is a brooding, emotional first love, largely defined by the Fearless, Speak Now, and Folklore eras, Jeremiah is the all-American boy gone vengeful represented by Reputation. Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 12 June 2025 The scenario’s bachelor No. 2 arrives in the brooding personage of Oliver (Charlie Anson), the great-great-great-great-nephew of Austen herself. Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025 During his rise to fame in the Eighties, Val Kilmer garnered a reputation among his peers and the media as a brooding young actor who was often petulant on set. Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2025 The picture is dedicated to Hutchins, and its brooding elegance, its rich shadows and evocative close-ups, demonstrates her achievement: Visually, Rust is often astonishing — which of course reminds us all over again of the dark specter hanging over the film. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 2 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for brooding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brooding
Verb
  • Coach Doc River played the role of Secret Santa by sitting the Bucks’ two biggest stars — Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was dealing with back spasms, and Damian Lillard, who was out with a non-COVID-19 illness.
    Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 24 Dec. 2024
  • The Rockets came into Christmas Eve riding a three-game winning streak, now sitting at 20-9 and up to second overall in the Western Conference, behind just the Oklahoma City Thunder.
    Rahat Huq, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The anonymous pregnant woman, who is also a plaintiff, has not yet tried to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine during her pregnancy but intends to, according to her attorneys.
    ByMary Kekatos, ABC News, 7 July 2025
  • The law went into effect on July 1, and allows pregnant women to use accessible parking spaces for up to one year after the date of issuance.
    Pilar Arias, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2025
Verb
  • While she's become a pop culture phenomenon, spawning numerous parodies from Saturday Night Live, Ariana Grande and TikTok users online, Nara finds her own inspiration closer to home.
    Athena Sobhan, People.com, 27 Dec. 2024
  • That film was a box office hit, earning $136 million at the global box office and spawning four sequels.
    Angelique Jackson, Variety, 20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Thousands of people — displaced by disaster, their past lives gone up in smoke — are hostage to the whims of a peevish president who always puts his feelings first and cares nothing for the greater good.
    Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2025
  • On a less peevish note: The entry is making its New York Times Crossword debut.
    Sam Corbin, New York Times, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • About a year after infection, a fully mature, gravid female worm migrates to the skin, usually in the lower extremities.
    Mark Kortepeter, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
  • Unlike young females, gravid females need to locate carrion for oviposition and distinguish between fresh and aging carrion, the latter possibly detrimental to offspring.
    Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 28 Feb. 2017
Adjective
  • Determined to make a clean SPF, Brown says a chemical formula was out of the question (chemical sunscreens are often thought to be unsafe for the coral reef and irritable to sensitive skin types).
    Kiana Murden, Vogue, 9 July 2025
  • In my own experience, poor sleep has frequently been the reason behind feeling tired and irritable.
    Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN Money, 8 July 2025
Adjective
  • Baby showers are a popular fixture among expectant parents.
    Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
  • Breastfeeding Happy Hour support group: Hosted by the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program at the Florida Department of Health in Osceola County for expectant and new moms.
    Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • Toby Huss — who voiced the Hills' abrasive neighbor, Kahn, and Hank's irascible father, Cotton — will take over as the voice of Dale in subsequent episodes.
    Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 30 May 2025
  • Hence, in this digital age when many people no longer stock postage stamps or envelopes or have any idea where their nearest postal box might be, only the most irascible of curmudgeons would make the effort.
    Inga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2025

Cite this Entry

“Brooding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brooding. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.

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