1
as in promising
having qualities which inspire hope
economists are offering a hopeful forecast for a healthy economy in the coming year
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in encouraging
pointing toward a happy outcome
in a hopeful response to the ad, several people called to say they'd seen our lost cat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in candidate
one who seeks an office, honor, position, or award
the three mayoral hopefuls are going to debate on local TV
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hopeful
New Atlas, 25 Aug. 2025
His consistent optimism even earned him a following of hopeful golf fans.
—Elise Devlin, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
EW.com, 28 Aug. 2025
White-collar hopefuls have been sending out over 1,700 job applications, with many applying to companies for over a year with no luck.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hopeful
Adjective
Rana and fellow psychiatrist Graham Pasternak are hopeful that this new treatment, which has not been named, could be a life-changing one for people with panic disorder.
—New Atlas, 25 Aug. 2025
His consistent optimism even earned him a following of hopeful golf fans.
—Elise Devlin, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
Noun
Other Oscar hopefuls debuting at this year's Venice Film Festival include Yorgos Lanthimos' Bugonia, Benny Safdie's The Smashing Machine, and Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein joining the festival's competition lineup.
—EW.com, 28 Aug. 2025
White-collar hopefuls have been sending out over 1,700 job applications, with many applying to companies for over a year with no luck.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hopeful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hopeful
Adjective
-
As federal grants disappear and career prospects dim, our most promising scientists and engineers in cyber-critical fields will inevitably seek opportunities in other friendly and permissive countries with stable research funding and a strong national commitment.—
Denis Mandich,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Iran, by far the world’s largest Shiite-majority country, encouraged these groups—mostly Shiite minorities—by scouting them, nurturing the most promising, and building trust and fellow feeling.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
There was a brief period towards the end of last season when Destiny Udogie was preferred for high-profile matches, but Spence’s performances under Frank have been encouraging.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Waller’s gait appeared normal in the locker room Friday, which was an encouraging sign.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Jim Walden, independent candidate for New York City mayor, on Tuesday dropped out of the race while calling on other hopefuls to get behind the second-most popular choice in an effort to defeat New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani.—
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
-
The candidate attends a one-week selection process and a 10-week training program.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Perhaps Vrabel knew something optimistic fans did not know.—
Mike Sando,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Klarna was unusually optimistic about AI’s capabilities.—
Peter Cohan,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In the east, crews continued to build line between Wiseman Springs and Rancheria Creek, engaging the fire directly along its active edge where favorable.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Environmental conditions are favorable for development of this system, currently labeled as Invest 91L, and a tropical depression is likely to form over the weekend or early next week as the system moves slowly westward across the central tropical Atlantic.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Now, the Cowboys have to watch him potentially turn the Packers into a budding Super Bowl contender for the foreseeable future.—
Kevin McCormick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
-
That’s left Venice as the de facto launching pad for major Oscar contenders from Netflix, an enviable position given that the streamer has continued to shell out big bucks to A-list auteurs in its quest to finally land a best picture statuette.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The Pixel’s Magic Editor leverages generative AI tools, which can remove objects in the background, alter lighting, and realistically change the entire mood of a phone (a bright middary sun can easily be compensated for).—
Ewan Spence,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Academy graduate Charlie Tasker is a bright prospect.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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There are also fears that doctors in these practices may focus too much on keeping paying patients happy, rather than providing the best disease management or medical care, researchers said.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Sep. 2025
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Each of them is raising a glass or bottle of beer — visible labels include Blatz and Schlitz — and each of the men look content, even happy.—
Chris Foran,
jsonline.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hopeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hopeful. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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