as in optimistic
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as in optimist
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Recent Examples of Pollyanna
Rich Roll, Outside, 26 Aug. 2025
During the festival, those attending can enjoy a selection of beer, wine and cocktails from Pollyanna Brewing & Distilling, along with offerings from other local St. Charles breweries, according to the release.
—Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
Your options aren’t only ‘cynical’ or ‘naïve’ The opposite of a cynic is a Pollyanna.
—Stav Ziv, CNBC, 24 June 2025
But isn’t the cynical explanation also the Pollyanna one?
—Maya Singer, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2025
Informed hope is not a Pollyanna attitude, but balancing the realities of the situation with the positive things people are doing.
—Natalie Eilbert, Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024
Noun
Alexi’s tutu-twirling positivity should not be confused with Pollyanna, nor her quirky insights with naiveté.
—Rich Roll, Outside, 26 Aug. 2025
During the festival, those attending can enjoy a selection of beer, wine and cocktails from Pollyanna Brewing & Distilling, along with offerings from other local St. Charles breweries, according to the release.
—Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
Your options aren’t only ‘cynical’ or ‘naïve’ The opposite of a cynic is a Pollyanna.
—Stav Ziv, CNBC, 24 June 2025
But isn’t the cynical explanation also the Pollyanna one?
—Maya Singer, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2025
Informed hope is not a Pollyanna attitude, but balancing the realities of the situation with the positive things people are doing.
—Natalie Eilbert, Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Pollyanna
Adjective
-
Filosa struck a more optimistic note for the current year, saying on an earnings call Friday that Stellantis would be profitable throughout 2026.—
Olesya Dmitracova,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The mood was resolved and optimistic, having found a way to continue where many efforts in international development have been derailed.—
Thalia Beaty,
Fortune,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
An optimist might suggest that a lower hiring rate is a shake-out from incredibly tight conditions during the pandemic.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
31 Jan. 2026
-
If the skeptics hadn’t outnumbered the optimists by many miles, there’s no way Rockefeller could have pieced together what became Standard Oil.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
His assistant coach, Pablo Remon Arteta, is Mikel Arteta’s cousin, a detail seized upon by the local media, hopeful that defensive organisation runs in that family.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Although hopeful, other Republicans did not follow the president’s lead in downplaying their loss.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
He’s got the twinkly eye and the sly, gregarious spiritual ease of a Micawber or a Cheeryble.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2024
-
The smallest of the Micawber brood glides away in his baby carriage, because the bailiff is dragging the hallway carpet out from under the front door.—
Josephine Livingstone,
The New Republic,
16 Sep. 2020
Noun
-
While Sophie has a pragmatic approach to life, she’s complemented by Benedict, a dreamy idealist.—
Kat Moon,
Time,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Yet this gloss dismisses something that might be better understood as a guiding principle, and suggests that criticism of Israel is an idealist’s liability rather than a stance with growing support among Democratic voters.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Maroon's memories of her stillborn daughter, rosy and warm, are fogged by the exhaustion of her long labor.—
Andrea Lucia,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Underneath the hood, however, the picture is less rosy.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Milo is described as a dreamer who loves to play in the snow.—
Aliza Chasan,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Not seeing us at all — as parents, neighbors, teachers, leads, lovers, screw‑ups, dreamers — damages us.—
Gloria Calderon Kellett,
Deadline,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The juxtaposition of upbeat melodies and tough lyrical content is precisely what makes Across the Raccoon Strait such a compelling body of work.—
Chris Barilla,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Cognitive Mercury and upbeat Jupiter are tripping over one another, potentially impacting your day-to-day routine or plans with your friends.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pollyanna.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Pollyanna. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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