1
as in aspiring
having a strong desire for personal advancement
an ambitious child actor and his even more ambitious mother, who will do anything to get him in commercials
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in aggressive
having or showing a bold forcefulness in the pursuit of a goal
cleaning up the vacant lot in one weekend was an ambitious undertaking
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Recent Examples of ambitious
But the elementary school has its own history of taking ambitious steps, choosing in 1944 to voluntarily desegregate.
—
Hanna Kang, Oc Register, 5 Aug. 2025
Pros & Cons The $799 Nothing Phone (3) is the company's most ambitious handset yet, stepping beyond the midrange and into the flagship fight.
—PC Magazine, 5 Aug. 2025
There are a lot of extremely small, well-funded, and ambitious businesses out there.
—Joe McKendrick, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
Rice University, a private Tier 1 research institution in Houston, is launching an ambitious plan to grow student enrollment and financial aid, as part of a strategic expansion approved by the school's board of trustees to focus on opportunity and academic excellence, officials announced Monday.
—Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ambitious
Hanna Kang, Oc Register, 5 Aug. 2025
Pros & Cons The $799 Nothing Phone (3) is the company's most ambitious handset yet, stepping beyond the midrange and into the flagship fight.
—PC Magazine, 5 Aug. 2025
There are a lot of extremely small, well-funded, and ambitious businesses out there.
—Joe McKendrick, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
Rice University, a private Tier 1 research institution in Houston, is launching an ambitious plan to grow student enrollment and financial aid, as part of a strategic expansion approved by the school's board of trustees to focus on opportunity and academic excellence, officials announced Monday.
—Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ambitious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambitious
Adjective
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He was raised with brother Steven, an aspiring lawyer who recently graduated from the University of Kentucky’s law school and wants to become a prosecutor; sister Shekinah, a nurse; and brother Shemar, an aspiring doctor who just graduated from Florida A&M with a bio-medical degree.—
Walter Villa,
Miami Herald,
6 Aug. 2025
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Read more about Europe's aspiring challenger to Elon Musk's satellite operator Starlink here.—
Jenni Reid,Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Potential Fed chair David Zervos backs an aggressive rate cut.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
15 Aug. 2025
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Poor oral hygiene allows plaque bacteria to produce acids that contribute to decay, while aggressive brushing can physically wear away the enamel surface.—
Thomas Westerholm,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Expedition crews are often leading Zodiac cruises or landing for hiking excursions in places none of them have ever been before, giving an exceptionally adventurous feel to outings.—
Cassidy Randall,
Forbes.com,
3 Aug. 2025
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But more adventurous viewers will find this an occult drama unusually rich in distinctive aesthetic and offbeat tonal rewards.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
31 July 2025
Adjective
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Nonetheless, the show’s premiere provides the perfect moment to map out the slimy, menacing world of Ellen Ripley and company in their epic battle against one of the galaxy’s fiercest creatures.—
Dan Heching,
CNN Money,
12 Aug. 2025
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On a subsequent rally, Kaylee smacked a fierce shot past me, scoring her team a point.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
11 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ambitious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambitious. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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