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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Both missions have faced years-long delays, and NASA's ambitious goal to launch Artemis 2 during its first window of opportunity isn't being thwarted by recent events aboard the ISS.
—
Josh Dinner, Space.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Sally Massey credits Gen Z as being ambitious, and incredibly tech savvy—critical skills that the consumer products company behind Colgate toothpaste and Irish Spring soap is looking for in talent.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 9 Jan. 2026
Andrew Masich, the president of the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, says that in his late teens and early 20s, Washington was an ambitious young man, looking to distinguish himself.
—Christopher Derose, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
The most ambitious of current redevelopments is the work developers Mike Hoque and Mike Ablon have planned for Bank of America Plaza — Dallas’ tallest tower.
—Nick Wooten, Dallas Morning News, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ambitious
Josh Dinner, Space.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Sally Massey credits Gen Z as being ambitious, and incredibly tech savvy—critical skills that the consumer products company behind Colgate toothpaste and Irish Spring soap is looking for in talent.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 9 Jan. 2026
Andrew Masich, the president of the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, says that in his late teens and early 20s, Washington was an ambitious young man, looking to distinguish himself.
—Christopher Derose, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
The most ambitious of current redevelopments is the work developers Mike Hoque and Mike Ablon have planned for Bank of America Plaza — Dallas’ tallest tower.
—Nick Wooten, Dallas Morning News, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ambitious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambitious
Adjective
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Only weeks earlier, the city had been shaken by the murder of Caroline Isenberg, a recent Harvard graduate and an aspiring actress who was attacked and dragged to the rooftop of her West End Avenue apartment building by Emmanuel Torres, the twenty-two-year-old son of its superintendent.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
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And his appearances at tailgates and Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte have been the stuff of dreams for the aspiring recording artist.—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Anthony Bernon, 28, said Americans are becoming increasingly concerned about i the aggressive tactics being used by ICE and other federal agencies enforcing immigration policy.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
13 Jan. 2026
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Reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement going door to door have circulated, and so too have videos alleging profiling based on race and ICE's apparent aggressive tactics.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The couple also chose an adventurous activity for their honeymoon in 1996.—
Ariana Quihuiz,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
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Desserts, too, are both adventurous and delicious.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Competition remains fierce in the Charlotte region to grab a piece of the lucrative grocery market share.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Jan. 2026
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But long before the fire destroyed a broad section of the San Gabriel Valley community, a small but fierce army of people devoted themselves to others who were without a home.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ambitious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambitious. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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