Synonyms for reflection
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
1. Contemplation — careful thought or consideration
contemplation, musing, rumination, thought, meditation, reflexion UK, introspection, attention, consideration, deliberation, thinking, study, pondering, thoughtfulness, reconsideration, cogitation
2. Expression
3. Mirror image
4. Censure
Other
Definitions
- n. 1
Careful thought or consideration.
After careful reflection, I have decided not to vote for that proposition.
- n. 2
The act of reflecting or the state of being reflected.
- n. 3
The property of a propagated wave being thrown back from a surface (such as a mirror).
- n. 4
Something, such as an image, that is reflected.
The dog barked at his own reflection in the mirror.
Forms
- Plural
- reflections → contemplations, musings, ruminations, thoughts…
Choose the right word
Blame, censure, and disapproval may either be felt or uttered; comment, criticism, rebuke, reflection, reprehension, and reproof are always expressed.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- meditation Mari calls her library room her "meditation room."
- contemplation A trivial problem doesn't require long contemplation.
- rumination Rumination is an important stage of making decisions.
- observation Close observation is necessary for the experiment.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| reflection | rising | |
| meditation | rising | |
| contemplation | steady | |
| musing | rising | |
| rumination | rising | |
| observation | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 5 letters
- study2, image2
- 6 letters
- shadow2, musing2
- 7 letters
- thought1, censure2
- 8 letters
- thinking2, reproach2
- 9 letters
- attention3, pondering3, stricture2, reflexion
- 10 letters
- expression3, meditation4, rumination4, cogitation4
- 11 letters
- personality5, observation4, resemblance3
- 12 letters
- deliberation5, reflectivity
- 13 letters
- consideration5, manifestation5, contemplation4, introspection4, animadversion
- 14 letters
- thoughtfulness3
- 15 letters
- reconsideration6
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (study2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- réflexion
- Italiano
- riflessione
- Español
- reflexión
- Deutsch
- Reflexion
- Català
- reflexió