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
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Recent Examples of ambitious
The Tech Hamiltonians, who bring an ambitious program with a fragile coalition to a tumultuous era, will be no exception to this rule.
—
Walter Russell Mead, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2026
While the general grifter is allowed to reinvent themselves, be openly ambitious, and romanticize their crimes, the female grifter—and especially the SGG—is met with significantly less permission and a higher demand for likability.
—Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026
If putting on a runway show for an independent label is an ambitious thing by definition (fiscally alone, costs can range between the mid-five-figures to anywhere above six), achieving what Chavarria did today is formidable on a different level.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 23 Jan. 2026
Honnold’s latest ambitious — and dangerous — climb will be brought to you live on Netflix.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ambitious
Walter Russell Mead, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2026
While the general grifter is allowed to reinvent themselves, be openly ambitious, and romanticize their crimes, the female grifter—and especially the SGG—is met with significantly less permission and a higher demand for likability.
—Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026
If putting on a runway show for an independent label is an ambitious thing by definition (fiscally alone, costs can range between the mid-five-figures to anywhere above six), achieving what Chavarria did today is formidable on a different level.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 23 Jan. 2026
Honnold’s latest ambitious — and dangerous — climb will be brought to you live on Netflix.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ambitious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambitious
Adjective
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Years prior, Ejae was an aspiring K-pop star signed to one of the biggest entertainment agencies in South Korea.—
Allison Cho,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
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Starring frontman JayDee of the trap corridos outfit Herencia de Patrones as an aspiring singer-songwriter in north-central California, the modest enterprise was originally scheduled for release months ago, then delayed till the doldrums of January instead.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Some of the city's narrow streets fell victim to the aggressive snow totals, leaving residents with little wiggle room to get around it.—
Andrew Ramos,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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The agency’s aggressive tactics this past year – especially when agents make their presence known in public areas in or near an employer, such as a parking lot – have had a chilling effect on businesses in areas where ICE has been operating.—
Jeanne Sahadi,
CNN Money,
27 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 1 Feb. 2026.
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