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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ambitious
When Industry premiered during the thick of the pandemic, in November 2020, critics swiftly jumped on board — but audiences were slower to find the thrilling drama, which centers on ambitious young graduates navigating their new life in a cutthroat London investment bank.
—
David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 19 June 2026
Jia describes the three deals as just the start of an ambitious international expansion plan for the company.
—Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 19 June 2026
In a moment when the genre was bursting with innovators, pushing at its seams from all sides—jubilant, gospel-fiery soul-jazz; the first dissonant strains of free jazz; dizzyingly ambitious big bands; calculated cool—this ensemble seemed to lay back, in tempo and affect.
—Natalie Weiner, Pitchfork, 19 June 2026
What’s fascinating is that these two movies are sandwiched in between some of his weirdest and most ambitious work.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ambitious
David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 19 June 2026
Jia describes the three deals as just the start of an ambitious international expansion plan for the company.
—Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 19 June 2026
In a moment when the genre was bursting with innovators, pushing at its seams from all sides—jubilant, gospel-fiery soul-jazz; the first dissonant strains of free jazz; dizzyingly ambitious big bands; calculated cool—this ensemble seemed to lay back, in tempo and affect.
—Natalie Weiner, Pitchfork, 19 June 2026
What’s fascinating is that these two movies are sandwiched in between some of his weirdest and most ambitious work.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ambitious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambitious
Adjective
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In 2000, Cameron Crowe released Almost Famous, his acclaimed semi-autobiographical drama about a 15-year-old aspiring journalist who lands a dream gig profiling an emerging rock band for Rolling Stone.—
Britt Hayes,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 June 2026
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For aspiring buyers, the geographic spread matters.—
Kamal Morgan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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Grey-zone tactics refer to a range of aggressive tactics that vary from navy ship patrols to drone flights, but fall short of direct combat.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 June 2026
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That will be decided in the coming hours, as the Heat remains in aggressive pursuit of a trade for Antetokounmpo.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
22 June 2026
Adjective
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Marmo sees Bruce’s life as tragical, comical but also adventurous and courageous.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
21 June 2026
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Mixing materials like lace, cotton, and more adventurous fabrics like leather within the same color family adds visual interest without losing the cohesive vibe.—
Staff Author,
InStyle,
19 June 2026
Adjective
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Despite a few glimmers of good feeling, today's fierce political divisions have redefined a milestone that has often been marked by unity and optimism, at least for a moment.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
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An uncontained blaze in Utah’s Juab County has scorched 34 square miles, forcing the evacuation of Eureka and nearby ranches as firefighters race to shield homes amid fierce winds.—
Valerie Gonzalez,
Los Angeles Times,
22 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ambitious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambitious. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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