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
-
And from his seat at the podium on Friday, the view for the Clippers next season and beyond was optimistic with draft capital, emerging young players and significant salary cap space.—
Janis Carr,
Oc Register,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Markets are firmly optimistic and investors would hope the stock rally does not be derailed by geopolitics.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Tech optimists may point to the benefits screens can have for individual tutoring or supplemental materials.—
Abby McCloskey,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Divided sentiment Have Californians suddenly become economic optimists?—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Despite the challenges, Republican candidates and convention attendees showed up hopeful for their odds — with especially strong enthusiasm behind the two candidates for governor, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and former Fox News commentator Steven Hilton.—
Maura Fox,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Apr. 2026
-
More hopeful about Magyar’s chances is Anna Fetter, 27, who has just moved back to Hungary after 10 years in the United States.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
11 Apr. 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
-
Hours later at the White House, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was less rosy, predicting that gas prices will fall sometime this summer, depending on how the negotiations with Iran go.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
They’re joined by rotating specials such as bone-in pork belly ribs and smoked flat iron steak carved into rosy pink slices.—
Robert F. Moss,
Southern Living,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This is a city of dreamers and strivers, so come, bask in their glow, and enjoy a few days of that golden life for yourself.—
CNT Editors,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Those crazy, diverse individuals, that tribe of oddballs and eccentrics, dreamers, and gamblers who make up this business.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
If anything, Petrarch stayed upbeat through all this rough treatment.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Apr. 2026
-
In its last semester, the campus appeared surprisingly upbeat.—
Jon Marcus,
NPR,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pollyanna.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Pollyanna. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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