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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 Knowledge, free to the public, cannot coexist with the ambitions of terrorists. Ryan Byrnes, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025 Expansion into luxury malls in Hong Kong, Macao and Singapore reflects Edition’s regional ambitions, with plans to bring the concept to more international markets in the years ahead. Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2025 Erik Poppe is one of the most distinctive voices in Scandinavian cinema, and this new film underscores his ambition and artistry. Annika Pham, Variety, 7 Oct. 2025 The surrounding limestone peaks of the Canadian Rockies scrape the sky, tempered in their reach by glaciers capping their lofty ambitions. Lisa Kadane, Travel + Leisure, 6 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ambition
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambition
Noun
  • Some had aspirations to move back up the pyramid, while others were content with making extra money on the side of their full-time jobs.
    Nnamdi Onyeagwara, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
  • The Knicks are entering this season with high championship aspirations, while the Bucks hope to avoid the play-in tournament and being part of the lowly Eastern Conference.
    Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • This includes several initiatives, including firearm injury prevention, teen driver safety and car seat safety.
    Beth Warren, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Oct. 2025
  • From digital strategies to face-to-face deal-making, circulation remains a priority for organizers, with initiatives like the popular Re>Birth program, now in its third edition.
    Lise Pedersen, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Last season, in Game 5 of the Panthers’ second-round series against Toronto, Boqvist finished with a goal and an assist with Rodrigues injured and played alongside Barkov and Sam Reinhart on Florida’s top line after moving up from his usual spot on the fourth line.
    Andre Fernandez, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2025
  • After a recent Rangers’ preseason game, Sullivan was shown a video clip of the goal.
    Peter Baugh, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Loosely based on the life of ping-pong great Marty Reisman, the film stars Timothée Chalamet as the fictional Marty Mauser, a table tennis wiz coming up in 1950s New York City with the hyper-determination to become a world champion.
    Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Bichette was ruled out for the ongoing series against the Yankees and the team has yet to reveal an official determination for any potential future playoff rounds.
    Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The committee’s action is not final until its meeting concludes Wednesday, according an NCAA release.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2025
  • The department’s actions and policies reflect a disdain for public schools and a desire to dismantle that system in favor of a range of other options — private, Christian and virtual schools or homeschooling.
    Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The description herein is a summary and intended for informational purposes only and does not include all terms, conditions and exclusions of the policies described.
    David McMillin, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Each piece was weathered and color-coded to signal hierarchy and purpose, grounding the film’s grand concept of a migrating Earth into reality.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • No throwback footage was needed as motivation on Sunday; only clips of their opponent.
    Ben Pickman, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
  • And so that was the real motivation.
    Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Seattle’s shockingly inept defense would have been a secondary storyline rather than the headline had quarterback Sam Darnold and the offense capped off their best performance of the year with a second consecutive game-winning drive.
    Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
  • 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

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Cite this Entry

“Ambition.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambition. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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