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
-
The most optimistic forecast put them middle-of-the-pack at 15th while most others placed them somewhere in the 20s.—
Michael McGough,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Lazar says even the most optimistic outlook for the rest of the season shows little chance of recovery.—
Callie Zanandrie,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Caroline Catlin is an unlikely optimist.—
MAGGIE PENMAN THE WASHINGTON POST,
Arkansas Online,
22 Mar. 2026
-
An optimist and networker with Harpo Marx hair, he was inducted into the Internet Hall of Fame in 2023 for helping invent the HTTPS encryption system and was among the first to take AI seriously, back when AI seemed even more insane.—
Joe Hagan,
Vanity Fair,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
His wife, Deborah, who was seated next to him, appeared to be less hopeful.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
As the war in Iran stretches into a fifth week, investors who had been hopeful for a quick resolution are growing increasingly uneasy about the real-world fallout from the conflict.—
Tanaya Macheel,
CNBC,
29 Mar. 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
-
Gorton skillfully depicts the grueling decades-long struggle of Sanger (the icon, in this telling) and Dennett (the idealist) to make birth control available and legal, as well as their interpersonal competition for power and influence.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Mar. 2026
-
While Sophie has a pragmatic approach to life, she’s complemented by Benedict, a dreamy idealist.—
Kat Moon,
Time,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
However, people with access to the notorious Brooklyn jail where he is being held paint a less rosy picture of what life there is really like.—
María Santana,
CNN Money,
25 Mar. 2026
-
His sparkling eyes and rosy cheeks were undeniably adorable.—
Gaby Del Valle,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
School arts programs with healthy budgets for every student are integral to our local communities and give inspiration to the next generation of creative dreamers.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Hadestown is comprised of two intertwining love stories — that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria was upbeat on the relationship when asked at the March 18 Next on Netflix event whether the platform was interested in adding more NFL beyond Christmas.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Wall Street viewed the purchase as an upbeat sign for the downtrodden sector, lifting shares of Palo Alto 5%.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pollyanna.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Pollyanna. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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