1
2
3

Synonym Chooser

How is the word ambition different from other nouns like it?

The words aspiration and pretension are common synonyms of ambition. While all three words mean "strong desire for advancement," ambition applies to the desire for personal advancement or preferment and may suggest equally a praiseworthy or an inordinate desire.

driven by ambition

When would aspiration be a good substitute for ambition?

Although the words aspiration and ambition have much in common, aspiration implies a striving after something higher than oneself.

an aspiration to become president someday

In what contexts can pretension take the place of ambition?

In some situations, the words pretension and ambition are roughly equivalent. However, pretension suggests ardent desire for recognition of accomplishment often without actual possession of the necessary ability and therefore may imply presumption.

has literary pretensions

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 ambition The Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz sites lie at the heart of Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and had previously been targeted by Israeli strikes. Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 21 June 2025 Just days after the G7 failed to deliver any meaningful policy progress, and as the EU backpedals on its green regulation agenda, a troubling gap is emerging between local ambition and failures of international leadership. Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025 For nearly four years since its first crewed mission, the New Shepard spacecraft has served as a powerful symbol of Blue Origin's commercial spaceflight ambitions amid a growing space tourism industry. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 21 June 2025 The Full moon in Capricorn on July 10 brings clarity to your career and sense of authority, encouraging you to release old ambitions and personas that no longer serve you. Valerie Mesa, People.com, 20 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for ambition
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambition
Noun
  • Instead, prioritize a thorough evaluation of the agency's healthcare knowledge, track record, communication style and overall value proposition to find the right fit for your practice's unique needs and aspirations.
    Ajay Prasad, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
  • The streaming giant is partnering with Jungle Entertainment on the period drama, which marks a fresh take on Franklin’s 1901 coming-of-age tale that captured the aspirations of young Australian women seeking independence and self-determination.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 June 2025
Noun
  • For 16 years, with a brief respite during President Trump’s first term, the military drifted into a laboratory for progressive priorities -- diversity quotas, climate initiatives, and gender policies that sapped readiness and lethality.
    Matt Schoenfeldt, National Review, 21 June 2025
  • Today, its purview extends to a complex web of initiatives aimed at fostering energy efficiency, electrification and ambitious decarbonization goals.
    Abhay Gupta, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
Noun
  • His aggressive tackling was crucial in helping PSG regain possession high up in their first goal against Atleti on Sunday (see top right of pitch map).
    Mark Carey, New York Times, 18 June 2025
  • The consortium’s goal is make Connecticut a premier hub for AI innovation.
    Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 18 June 2025
Noun
  • Then the market for EVs started showing signs of slowing down, and the current administration’s determination to eliminate the federal tax credit for EVs started to alter the trajectory of the battery-electric vehicle uptake.
    Kristin Shaw, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
  • Her close call does not diminish her determination.
    Ian Pannell, ABC News, 18 June 2025
Noun
  • All of this runs on a Jetson AGX Orin module, making the robot responsive and ready for action.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2025
  • Saying that democracy needs judges and prosecutors to carry out the rule of law, Obama said that some recent actions by the federal government have pushed the limits of democracy.
    CHRISTOPHER KEATING HARTFORD COURANT, Arkansas Online, 19 June 2025
Noun
  • Ibogaine is a psychoactive compound from the root bark of a West African shrub and has been used by Indigenous people for medical and spiritual purposes for hundreds of years.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2025
  • Walters noted that both direct and indirect loans to the general fund budget are drawn from special funds designated for specific purposes.
    Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 26 June 2025
Noun
  • The next step is to win it, and that’s our motivation for next season.
    Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 21 June 2025
  • The suspect’s motivation for the shootings remains unclear.
    David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 20 June 2025
Noun
  • One of drive, skill, and physicality, and the two midfielders both possess the engine to return to their defensive positions quickly when needed.
    James Nalton, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023
  • Potentially more significant are subsidies paid to companies that manufacture batteries in the United States, part of a drive by the Biden administration to establish a domestic supply chain and reduce dependence on China.
    Jack Ewing, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2023

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ambition.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambition. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on ambition

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!