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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ambitious
On my son’s team, ambitious young athletes determined to excel share the dugout with reluctant participants and kids who just want to throw a ball around with their friends.
—
Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 22 May 2026
Its young people are growing increasingly educated and ambitious, but the country is not yet able to reap the potential economic benefits.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 22 May 2026
Our annual Women to Watch project showcases the most accomplished, ambitious, powerful, memorable and intriguing women in the Baltimore area.
—Tracie Rawson, Baltimore Sun, 22 May 2026
Cannes is meant to launch ambitious, prickly works by grandmasters and next-generation talents.
—Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for ambitious
Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 22 May 2026
Its young people are growing increasingly educated and ambitious, but the country is not yet able to reap the potential economic benefits.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 22 May 2026
Our annual Women to Watch project showcases the most accomplished, ambitious, powerful, memorable and intriguing women in the Baltimore area.
—Tracie Rawson, Baltimore Sun, 22 May 2026
Cannes is meant to launch ambitious, prickly works by grandmasters and next-generation talents.
—Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for ambitious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambitious
Adjective
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The first season is adapted from the first book, The Deal, and revolves around the hockey team captain Garrett Graham (Belmont Cameli) and his relationship with aspiring songwriter Hannah Wells (Ella Bright).—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
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At the Transport for London office, nervous, aspiring cabbies dress up in their Sunday best to take a series of oral exams known as appearances.—
Anderson Cooper,
CBS News,
17 May 2026
Adjective
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Gone was the meek servant child, replaced by a confident woman who remained composed during aggressive cross-examination.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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The new reality finds those legacy players, with the single exception of Disney, playing defense as tech’s flywheel spins faster, and their pursuit of TV ad dollars becomes even more aggressive.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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The adventurous activity allows travelers the chance to come eye-to-eye with a shark from the safety of a cage, from the Galapagos Islands to the Western Cape of South Africa.—
Kristine Hansen,
Travel + Leisure,
14 May 2026
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Un Certain Regard has an excellent track record for this kind of thing — formally adventurous films that leave audiences slightly altered.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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Elsewhere, Juventus was roundly jeered after losing 2-0 at home to fierce rivals Fiorentina, while Como held on for a 1-0 win over Parma to leave Cesc Fàbregas’ team still in with a chance of qualifying for the Champions League just seven years after playing in Italy's fourth division.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 May 2026
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In the remote native villages of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, on the coast of the Bering Sea, Halong’s fierce flooding lifted homes off their foundations and carried them down a river with people still inside.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ambitious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambitious. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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