would-be

adjective

ˈwu̇d-ˈbē

Synonyms of would-be next

: desiring, intending, professing, or having the potential to be

tips for would-be mothers and fathers

The conference, held over the Labor Day weekend, drew 1200 to 1300 writers and would-be writers to the Hawaiian island this year …—

John F. Baker

Possibly the most hilarious and outrageous character was Joey Tribbiani, a would-be actor who struggles to find success in his chosen profession …—

The Cheat Sheet

She's a clueless, would-be do-gooder without much self-awareness.—

Maureen Ryan

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web With his decades of experience in the industry, Mr. MacFarlane is troubled that lack of capital remains a barrier for would-be developers. —

Colette Coleman, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2023 The cherry on top is the matching anti-theft wristlet, which is armed with RFID technology to prevent your cards and ID from being scanned by would-be thieves. —

Kristine Solomon, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2023 That has pushed many would-be buyers back to the sidelines after a brief reprieve at the start of the year. —

Gina Heeb, WSJ, 2 Mar. 2023 Yet should would-be candidates continue to avoid CPAC, operatives said that could change the media perception of the event which could result in fewer headlines. —

Libby Cathey, ABC News, 2 Mar. 2023 On March 21, the would-be thieves had climbed that ladder up to the window, to remove bolts from security glass that covered the window and gain access to a locker room for museum employees. —

Hazlitt, 1 Mar. 2023 The would-be lucrative contract is the major story of this NFL offseason. —

Hayes Gardner, Baltimore Sun, 1 Mar. 2023 Recession-proof your life: The tsunami of economic news in 2022 is leading consumers, investors and would-be homeowners alike to ask whether a recession is inevitable. —

Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2023 In previewing how applications for the money will be rolled out, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Monday said would-be recipients must demonstrate their projects would benefit U.S. national security and produce a good return for the public. —

Joseph Morton, Dallas News, 28 Feb. 2023 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'would-be.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.