Definition of aspirationnext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word aspiration different from other nouns like it?

The words ambition and pretension are common synonyms of aspiration. While all three words mean "strong desire for advancement," aspiration implies a striving after something higher than oneself.

an aspiration to become president someday

When is it sensible to use ambition instead of aspiration?

Although the words ambition and aspiration have much in common, ambition applies to the desire for personal advancement or preferment and may suggest equally a praiseworthy or an inordinate desire.

driven by ambition

In what contexts can pretension take the place of aspiration?

While in some cases nearly identical to aspiration, pretension suggests ardent desire for recognition of accomplishment often without actual possession of the necessary ability and therefore may imply presumption.

has literary pretensions

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of aspiration Rahman is positioning himself as a bridge between a political aristocracy that dates back to Bangladesh’s liberation struggle and the aspirations of its young revolutionaries. Charlie Campbell, Time, 28 Jan. 2026 Playing on a Rockets team with playoff aspirations, Sheppard struggled to find his footing and earn a rotation spot from head coach Ime Udoka. Rahat Huq, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026 This year’s eclipses will also activate your fifth house of romance and 11th house of future visions, while the North Node in Aquarius shifts your focus toward community, collaboration and long-term aspirations. Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 26 Jan. 2026 To ensure the project reflects the needs and aspirations of the community, Valpo Parks has launched a comprehensive set of public surveys and encourages broad participation by March 1. Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for aspiration
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aspiration
Noun
  • As long as that business continues to dominate in mobile, exceed expectations and throw off billions of dollars of cash a quarter, Zuckerberg is likely to get plenty of leeway to pursue his AI ambitions.
    Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Solopreneur Amber Taylor, owner of PinkCove, realized very quickly that a gap in AI skills doesn’t exist because of a lack of intelligence or ambition.
    Alison Coleman, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Pageau smashed home his second goal late in the third to finish off a listless Flyers team.
    CBS News, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Playing five games over the course of three days, Willis logged three goals and two assists.
    Clark Fahrenthold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • In a consumer environment growing increasingly skeptical, leading with purpose and transparency builds trust and authority that will compound over time.
    Serenity Gibbons, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
  • In a prepared speech, Kristi Noem lied about the events, claiming Alex Pretti approached agents with a firearm, and that Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, came for the sole purpose of murder.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • In the coming months, Starbucks plans to reintroduce tiers to its loyalty program, launch Energy Refreshers and more efficient espresso machines, all with the aim of meeting those new financial targets.
    Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2026
  • The club’s stated aims are to compete for European qualification and a first major trophy.
    Andy Naylor, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Dumas has worked for Valero for four years but just moved to the Benicia location from Arizona a year ago, just a few months before the energy company announced a possible plan to cease or idle operations.
    Amanda Hari, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
  • The plan is to develop a cost-effective, energy-efficient technology for making innovative plastics based on polybutylene succinate (PBS) which are made entirely out of organic waste.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 8 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Again, the intention behind his decision to flip the puck deep and go for a change was impeccable, but there was another option there that might have allowed the Canadiens to possess the puck a bit longer.
    Arpon Basu, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Locked doors, bloody bits in trunks, deceptive lovers with ill intentions.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • But the early response from the administration has been to claim that Pretti was brandishing the weapon, while FBI Director Kash Patel went so far as to suggest the presence of a gun at a rally could be evidence of malicious intent.
    David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 27 Jan. 2026
  • The assault with intent to murder charge has a possible penalty of life in prison; the felony firearm has a two-year penalty, consecutive to any other charges.
    Paula Wethington, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • That requires policymakers to distinguish between ideas that sound compassionate and policies that work.
    J.D. Hayworth, Boston Herald, 24 Jan. 2026
  • Felipe Munoz, an industry expert who runs the industry research platform Car Industry Analysis, likes the small car idea.
    Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Aspiration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aspiration. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

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