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 Longtime commission Chairman Robb Pitts said his former colleague Mo Ivory is seeking to use the position as a springboard for her future political aspirations. Shaddi Abusaid, AJC.com, 2 June 2026 The aspiration to individual rights received much less emphasis in popular culture than a sense of duty to the nation. Wyatt Williams, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026 While some of their players have long-term aspirations of playing at an even higher level, none are pushing to leave — with the possible exception of Jean-Philippe Mateta. Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 2 June 2026 Hot on the heels of Sunday night’s finale of the Sam Levinson HBO series Euphoria, Sydney Sweeney is leaning into her producing and potentially directing aspirations. Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 1 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for aspiration
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aspiration
Noun
  • Romano’s ambition here isn’t new, said Thomas Mallon in The New Yorker.
    The Week US, TheWeek, 3 June 2026
  • If your abiding artistic interest lies in the place where ambition collides with basicness, Murray Hill really must be the most compelling neighborhood in Manhattan.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 3 June 2026
Noun
  • Their goal is to preserve the intimate essence of Cap Rocat for its guests.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • Best of luck accomplishing your goals today, and, of course, do keep in touch.
    Ed Silverman, STAT, 1 June 2026
Noun
  • My novel is about that sea-change and the search for purpose.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
  • While there is nothing particularly Jordanian about the design, the interiors serve multiple purposes for visiting business travelers and tourists.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Noun
  • From Idaho legislators to federal lawmakers So far failing to hit pay dirt with legislation in Idaho, Gleason and his family have shifted to pursuing a federal law with similar aims.
    Kevin Fixler June 4, Idaho Statesman, 4 June 2026
  • The exchange’s aim is to attract international capital to the island.
    Sarah Moreno June 4, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
Noun
  • Its completion is a testament to the efforts of the countless designers and architects who had to decipher plans for the church that were largely destroyed in the 1930s.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 8 June 2026
  • Strikes come amid Israel's military campaign in Lebanon Israel's strike in the Beirut area was the first attack since the United States brokered a truce plan for Lebanon last week.
    Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 8 June 2026
Noun
  • This response would have been noticeably incongruous with the time, and it would certainly be read as the intentions with which it was likely written, as naming a kind of politics.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
  • Announced in February, the Octane Tour comes on the heels of Octane‘s release in January, which is an album Toliver made with the intention of catering to varying sounds and crowds.
    Preezy Brown, Rolling Stone, 2 June 2026
Noun
  • Soon, this recognition stretched to include representational painting by younger Black artists, as museums, galleries, and collectors still more clearly signaled their progressive intent.
    Katy Siegel, Artforum, 2 June 2026
  • There seems deliberate intent to create a live experience built around presence rather than ubiquitous documentation of concerts today, a theme that connects directly to their broader creative identity around authenticity and breaking conventions.
    Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Noun
  • The two can talk through any challenging or creative idea for hours or go their separate ways.
    Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 30 May 2026
  • However, bright, clever ideas also might spring up in your mind.
    Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 30 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Aspiration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aspiration. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.

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