ASPIRATION Synonyms: 80 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

aspiration

noun

ˌa-spə-ˈrā-shən

Definition of aspiration

as in ambition

eager desire for personal advancement a combination of aspiration and hard work made her the top tennis player in the state

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in goal

something that one hopes or intends to accomplish college is his immediate aspiration after he graduates from high school

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 That fieldwork became the foundation for a fictional narrative built around migration, masculinity, aspiration, labor and belonging. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026 Some will reject Access outright, saying Hohenbruck is about aspiration and ownership. — Harvard Business Review, 3 Sep. 2026 Our one scene in the Sampson camp this week finds the congressman’s wife, Elspeth, warning him that having embraced Major Reacher, who is now a fugitive, in front of the press is a crisis that could tank his presidential aspirations. — Chris Klimek, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026 Clooney was also asked about the studio no-show at this year’s film festivals, as well as his directing aspirations. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for aspiration

Recent Examples of Synonyms for aspiration

Noun

There’s currently a logjam in front of him, with the dynamic duo of Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood in Colorado, but Nabokov is coming over to North America with the ambition and skill to make his mark quickly.

— Jesse Granger, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
The literary ambitions at Jumbo’s extend well beyond the stage.

— Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of ambition

Noun

Both drivers were told to stop yo-yoing positions and to instead work together to pull clear of the Red Bull, with the aim of clinching the team’s 1-2 result before settling their own fight at the end.

— Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
What was your way in there and why was that subject specifically something that felt so pertinent to your larger aims?

— David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of aim

Noun

Depending on your situation, a debt management plan, debt consolidation or simply negotiating directly with creditors may be a better option.

— Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 7 Sep. 2026
Their plan to find a long-term answer at QB appears centered on the 2027 draft, which is expected to feature a more talented class with the likes of Arch Manning, Dante Moore, Julian Sayin and CJ Carr.

— Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of plan

Noun

Organizations that adopt technology without understanding how that technology enables innovation will struggle, at best, or, more likely, fall behind competitors that move with greater intention.

— Robbie Morrison, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026
Wisconsin fired football coach Paul Chryst in 2022 with the intention of pushing a proud program back to national dominance.

— Tim Graham, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2026

Definition of intention

Noun

Additionally, the school published the statements with intent to harm Skains, according to the verdict.

— Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2026
Attorneys for Shanetta Bossell filed a notice of intent to rely on lack of mental capacity defense, according to court records filed Friday.

— Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of intent

Noun

The new experiment tested those competing ideas by deliberately weakening the electron interactions.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
But the head of Germany’s central bank, who is also a member of the European Central Bank Governing Council, said Melenchon’s debt cancelation idea would be forbidden under the currency bloc’s rules and could lead to hyperinflation.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of idea

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aspirants

aspiration

aspirations

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“Aspiration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aspiration. Accessed 18 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of aspiration

noun

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