Have you ever known someone who is always thinking about something? This is not necessarily about worrying or being sad. Thinking is the mind’s constant activity and we often activate it consciously.
While thinking is natural for everyone, some people spend more time in their thoughts than others. One may wonder how you can tell that a person is thinking but it is very noticeable. What do you call a person who thinks too much? We have brought some of the best ideas to you.
A person who thinks too much can be called an ‘Introvert’ but this word doesn’t cover excessive thinking alone. Some more specific words include ‘Introspective’, ‘Melancholic’, and many more.
Introvert can be the right word for whom you are referring to if he/she isn’t social and would be much freer and bolder when alone.
15 words for someone who thinks too much
There are different kinds of thinking. There are also different names for people who think too much. Some words simply refer to the act of thinking while some include other traits, like ‘Introvert’ does.
Some words also refer to certain kinds of thoughts i.e. positive and negative. Here are 15 of the many words to refer to someone who thinks too much.
- Overthinking
- Thoughtful
- Ruminant
- Pensive
- Reminiscent
- Considerate
- Contemplative
- Anxious
- Introspective
- Reflective
- Preoccupied
- Philosopher
- Cogitative
- Melancholic
- Worrisome
Overthinking
To Overthink is to think too much about something. This is often used when you call people to consider something that has either already been considered or shouldn’t be considered.
Overthinking is one of the few words for a person who simply thinks too much. No one is simply thinking too much, however.
This word can be used irrespective of what the person seems to be thinking about. It is mostly used to refer to people who think too far and consider things that should rather be ignored.
Example:
- You are overthinking this. There is nothing to worry about.
Thoughtful
Thoughtful refers to someone who demonstrates thought or careful consideration. It also refers to the demonstration of kindness or consideration for others.
This is a nice word to qualify a person’s act of thinking too much. However, this is quite specific, unlike other words.
This word is simply for a person who appears to be thinking of the right things. When a person calls you thoughtful after you make a statement, this means you have thought of something that should be considered and he/she had forgotten about it before.
The word can be used in many ways and may also refer to the act of remembering or considering something you are not expected to.
Example:
- You excluded the gluten products. That’s very thoughtful of you.
Ruminant
Ruminant is when a person is pondering or prone to pondering. This refers to someone who is either currently immersed in thoughts or constantly immerses himself or herself in his/her thoughts.
When you are in deep thought, you make certain expressions that let others know that you are absent from the surroundings.
When you see a person who seems to be trying to figure something out, he/she can be said to be pondering. You can also use the word; Ruminant.
This is less about worrying and more about trying to find something out or make a decision.
Example:
- He was too ruminant to be part of the fun.
Pensive
Pensive is when a person looks thoughtful, especially from sadness. It also refers to a person who looks as though he/she has been depressed.
Pensive can be used for a person who is thinking or who must have been thinking. As mentioned earlier, you can know when a person is immersed in his/her thoughts.
It is also often clear if a person has been in deep thought earlier. Unlike ‘Ruminant’ which is not about worrying, this is mostly used for ‘worrying’. In other words, you can use this for a person who looks sad or seems to be worrying.
Example:
- It was his birthday so I found it absurd that he was pensive.
Reminiscent
Reminiscent refers to the act of remembering long-past experiences, often fondly. When a person is reminiscent, he/she is missing a past experience.
Reminiscent has to do with positive thoughts. This may be considered sad by many since the remembering of good old days implies that those good days are past and present days may not be as good or enjoyable.
This word doesn’t necessarily refer to excessive thinking but you can use it to refer to the person if he/she is thinking of a positive or happy moment in the past.
Example:
- I sniffed his perfume and it got me Reminiscent of my father’s garden.
Considerate
Considerate refers to something that’s characterized by careful and conscious thoughts, and it can be used to replace thinking too much. It also refers to thoughtful or observance of other people.
A thoughtful person asks questions that no one has thought of, bringing people to consider something that they have either ignored or forgotten.
The same applies to a considerate person. If you have a person who seems to think of his/her actions before doing them, you can call him/her Considerate.
Example:
- I was wondering how to convince my boss to help out but he was very considerate.
Contemplative
Contemplative is when a person views or considers something with continued attention. It has to do with pondering for answers or making decisions, which can also be used for a considerate person.
While some people think of happy or sad moments in the past, some think of moments that are yet to happen or even ones that may never happen.
If you want to refer to a person who is considering possibilities to reach a conclusion, you can call him/her Contemplative. It may also have to do with making the best decisions and considering how they turn out before doing so.
Example:
- I’ve never been this contemplative. We must not fail this.
Anxious
An Anxious person is greatly concerned or solicitous, especially when expecting something future or unknown.
You can’t just use ‘Anxious’ to refer to anyone who seems to be thinking too much. This is something most nervous people do when they are anticipating something.
This combines fear and hastiness with excessive thinking. If a person is scared to see something but wants to see it quickly, then he/she must be anxious about it.
Example:
- I may have been too anxious before the results were revealed.
Introspective
Introspective is when a person examines his/her own thoughts, feelings, or ideas. When a person is being introspective, he/she is thinking of his/her prior ideas rather than discussing them with others.
This is a major characteristic of Introverts but not only Introverts do this. It can also refer to a person who’s meditating.
Introspective is a word you can give to someone who is often in his/her thoughts. The word doesn’t to the act of being constantly in one’s thoughts but a person can choose to get introspective from time to time, making it possible for you to find him/her in that state multiple times.
Example:
- The inflated expenses got him introspective for weeks.
Reflective
Reflective is when a person is thinking back on the past. When a person is reflective, he/she is pondering a moment or situation in the past.
Reflective doesn’t necessarily have to do with happiness or sadness. It simply has to do with remembering a moment in the past and letting thoughts about that moment linger on one’s mind.
Example:
- When I saw the boy lying dead, it got me reflective. I should have made a report earlier.
Preoccupied
Preoccupied refers to when a person is distracted or paying attention to something else. When a person is preoccupied, he/she may not intentionally plunge himself or herself into those thoughts.
This is more correct when those thoughts are distracting him/her from other necessary thoughts or activities.
While ‘Occupied’ means a lot of things, it is commonly used to refer to a person’s unavailability or engagement with an activity. When a person says he/she is occupied, it means he/she is busy. It is similar to the meaning of ‘Preoccupied’.
While ‘Occupied’ has to do with the engagement of the hands and the body, ‘preoccupied’ has to do with the engagement of the mind and one’s attention.
Example:
- I met him working on the machines but he was clearly preoccupied. I wonder what was bothering him.
Philosopher
You can use the word, ‘Philosopher’, as a nickname for a person who seems to always be thinking and trying to solve a problem.
However, the word has an actual English definition with a similar meaning.
A Philosopher is a student or expert in Philosophy which is a branch of Unapplied Science. The subject has to do with using Scientifically proven ideas and logic to solve problems or reach the most logical conclusions, often on abstract topics. Thinking and solving problems is a major characteristic of a Philosopher.
Example:
- We hit a roadblock soon after we started. It turned him into a Philosopher in seconds.
Cogitative
Cogitative is an adjective for a person who is in the process of thinking, deliberating, or meditating.
The word is also used to refer to certain thoughts or ideas that seem to be well-deliberated. It is similar to qualifying an idea as ‘thoughtful’.
Some people fall into their thoughts when they are less busy. However, there is a need for you to think when you are faced with a mentally challenging task or you have to make a decision which may turn out good or bad for you. In this position of thinking of the best decision to make, the person is being Cogitative.
Example:
- I have to admit that the idea was quite Cogitative of him. It’s not one I could have thought of in years.
Melancholic (or Melancholy)
Melancholic refers to a person who is filled with or affected by great sadness or depression, especially of a thoughtful or introspective nature.
This is when a person is plunged into sad thoughts. While he/she is thinking of a way out, he/she is also putting no hope in the ideas that pop up in his/her head.
Melancholic is another word for a person who may be worrying. However, this may not exactly mean the same as being plunged into worry.
Example:
- I have never seen him so melancholic since I’ve been working with him. We should check on him.
Worrisome
Worrisome refers to a person who is inclined to worry. It may also refer to something that perturbs you or causes you to worry.
This is a very common word for a person who worries or something that may plunge you into worry. As explained earlier, worrying is the mind’s refusal to pick a side. Picking a side is choosing to be either optimistic or pessimistic.
In both cases, you won’t have to wait anxiously for a result because you already concluded on having faith. In the case of being worrisome, you don’t know how it will turn out so you keep switching from the good thoughts to the bad thoughts and vice-versa.
Example:
- The teacher looked quite worrisome when we last spoke.
A person whom you believe may be thinking excessively can be said to be ‘Overthinking’. A person who is or has been immersed in sad thoughts can be described as Pensive or Melancholic.
A person who is worried can be described as ‘Anxious’ or ‘Worrisome’. The English Dictionary offers more words for the act of thinking. An example is ‘Anticipating’ which is for positive expectations.
