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
-
That's why scientists are optimistic about the vaccine.—
Chandelis Duster,
NPR,
14 Sep. 2025
-
The good news is that the Vols’ schedule looks pretty manageable by SEC standards, with plenty of optimistic takeaways available in this game.—
Jason Kirk,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
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On Tuesday night, Bader led off for one of the best teams in baseball, an audacious idea at the time of the trade for even the biggest optimists in the room.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
-
An optimist would read the internal market action in recent weeks as foretelling an early-cycle reacceleration/reflation dynamic setting up.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Trepanier is hopeful but concerned that the plan to remove the birds may fall through.—
Everett Eaton,
jsonline.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
There is a lot to be hopeful about.—
Alexis Kayser,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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He’s got the twinkly eye and the sly, gregarious spiritual ease of a Micawber or a Cheeryble.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2024
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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
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Of the roiling mass of restless natives, cranky artists and tattered idealists who rose up across the Southland this summer to flip off darkness and call America back to its better angels?—
John Lopez,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Sep. 2025
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Fifteen years later, Brooks is back with a story about a young idealist trying to balance a professional life in politics with her wacky family.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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From vengeful resurrections to satanic rituals, shoplifters waging war on capitalism to secret cults, shadow selves to harrowing births, these genre-defying films crown the Dolls as auteurs, protagonists, dreamers, and disruptors.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
10 Sep. 2025
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My friend, the late Dr. Dorothy I. Height, once described me as a dreamer with a shovel in my hands.—
John Hope Bryant,
Time,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Fast forward to Thursday night’s affair, Evangelista donned a slightly thicker and lighter version of her trademark eyebrows, rosy lips and light contour below her cheekbones.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
12 Sep. 2025
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Bring lashes to life with generous coats of L’Oréal Voluminous Mascara (the limit does not exist) and add a hint of flush to cheeks with your favorite rosy blush.—
Karina Hoshikawa,
Refinery29,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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This ancient practice has been a source of guidance and meaning for people from all walks of life, not just mystics and starry-eyed romantics.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
10 Sep. 2025
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That reasoning helped anchor the setting for The Paper inside the office of a newspaper with dwindling resources, a beleaguered staff, and a boss whose belief in the institution borders on the romantic.—
Andy Meek,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pollyanna.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Pollyanna. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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