1
as in aspiration
eager desire for personal advancement
"Talent without ambition will not make you a star," the singer's voice coach liked to remind her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in initiative
readiness to engage in daring or difficult activity
the ambition shown by the undersea explorers of the Mariana Trench, the deepest in the world
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in goal
something that one hopes or intends to accomplish
his ambition is to study international business, then get a job overseas
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ambition
The Pro model also feeds into Logitech’s broader room-intelligence ambitions.
—
New Atlas, 4 Feb. 2026
Psychologists who study the nature of ambition have consistently found that aspirations are motivating in proportion to their attainability.
—Franklin Schneider, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
Eventually, in the final few hours of business, Wolves delivered on their head coach’s ambitions.
—Steve Madeley, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
As the operation expands into a citywide black market, their ambitions collide with corrupt authorities, rival butchers and the shifting political landscape, pushing the family toward dangerous alliances and violent consequences.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ambition
New Atlas, 4 Feb. 2026
Psychologists who study the nature of ambition have consistently found that aspirations are motivating in proportion to their attainability.
—Franklin Schneider, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
Eventually, in the final few hours of business, Wolves delivered on their head coach’s ambitions.
—Steve Madeley, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
As the operation expands into a citywide black market, their ambitions collide with corrupt authorities, rival butchers and the shifting political landscape, pushing the family toward dangerous alliances and violent consequences.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ambition
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambition
Noun
-
From legal aspirations to a life of art As a girl, I was fascinated by color, texture and creative expressions.—
Anya Sesay,
jsonline.com,
5 Feb. 2026
-
But the Michigan year was important to his future head coaching aspirations.—
D. Orlando Ledbetter,
AJC.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The centerpiece of the administration’s strategy is a new $12 billion stockpile initiative, relying on a $10 billion Export-Import Bank loan — the largest in its history — bolstered by private capital.—
Morgan Chalfant,
semafor.com,
4 Feb. 2026
-
The community program is just one of several initiatives from the State Fair, which is looking to expand its offerings to promote local involvement.—
Aria Jones,
Dallas Morning News,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Pageau smashed home his second goal late in the third to finish off a listless Flyers team.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Playing five games over the course of three days, Willis logged three goals and two assists.—
Clark Fahrenthold,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
As the bond between man and wild animal grows, so, too, does Nikola’s determination to return to a way of life that is in balance with nature.—
Alissa Simon,
Variety,
4 Feb. 2026
-
All three family members were rescued after roughly 10 hours adrift, their survival credited to the teenager’s courage and determination.—
Rod McGuirk,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Officials have vowed to combat any similar US military action against Cuba.—
Bianna Golodryga,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Both of those teams already have been in action on the trade market, with the Celtics adding center Nikola Vucevic from the Chicago Bulls and the Wizards previously acquiring Trae Young from the Hawks.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In a consumer environment growing increasingly skeptical, leading with purpose and transparency builds trust and authority that will compound over time.—
Serenity Gibbons,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
In a prepared speech, Kristi Noem lied about the events, claiming Alex Pretti approached agents with a firearm, and that Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, came for the sole purpose of murder.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But Mandac used those setbacks as motivation, taking some new knowledge away from each defeat.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
-
So, great motivation to keep that going.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The 500-foot-long stretch of 18th-century Georgian homes can be found in Bath — about a three-hour drive from London’s city center.—
Kayla Keegan,
PEOPLE,
1 Feb. 2026
-
After a 330-yard drive, Gotterup ripped a shot that rolled just past the hole.—
Jay Posner,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ambition.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambition. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
