ASPIRES Synonyms: 83 Similar and Opposite Words

aspires

verb

present tense third-person singular of aspire

as in intends

to have in mind as a purpose or goal aspire to great deeds, and you have a better chance of doing good deeds

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as in rises

to move or extend upward a tower aspiring towards the heavens

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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 aspires At the center of it all is an electrifying performance by Robert Pattinson as Hansen, a man who aspires to powerful anchor machismo but is slowly falling apart. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 Sep. 2026 The chaotic, violence-laden sequence is but the first of many in a film that aspires to classic Hollywood action movie status but reduces its effectiveness through overkill of both the literal and figurative kind. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026 The work aspires to tell nothing less than the story of human experience—and much like humanity itself, nobody has ever quite figured out what to do with it. — Benjamin Moser, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2026 Today, Indiana is the national champion, and its program is the type of destination that a player from, say a UNT, aspires to play for. — Mac Engel september 5, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2026 Garvey, who aspires to be a firefighter, raced through the course at top speed. — Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Sep. 2026 Still, for every resourceful, imaginative low-budget success, there is a bungled movie that aspires, if not to quality, then at least to financial viability, but instead achieves legendary ineptitude. — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026 Diop, the first girl in her village to be accepted into the school, now aspires to be an international business lawyer. — ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026 Amorrortu, whose brother Sebastian kicked at Minnesota State Moorhead, aspires to play in college too. — Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for aspires

Verb

Under the strategy, the Japanese automaker intends to streamline its automobile lineup by getting rid of low-performing models and increasing its use of technologies such as artificial intelligence.

— Michael Wayland, CNBC, 21 Sep. 2026
The game also was likely their last at Angel Stadium during the 24-year tenure of owner Arte Moreno, who intends to sell the team to Rams owner Stan Kroenke before next season begins.

— Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of intends

Verb

Smoke rises from the area of the Russian oil producer Gazprom Neft's Moscow oil refinery as seen from Dzerzhinsky in the Moscow region on September 20, 2026.

— Sam Meredith, CNBC, 21 Sep. 2026
The upper floor has roughly 11-foot ceilings, while the main level rises to about 14 feet, according to the listing information.

— David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of rises

Verb

The Ostrich Army spoke of the impending incursion as the advent of jackboot autocracy, but plans to resist it seemed more equivocal.

— J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
In particular, plans to develop long-term moon bases could benefit from the information.

— Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of plans

Verb

Washington’s offensive line poses too many questions even if Daniels ascends.

— Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026
When a bird ascends during a migratory flight, a barometric geolocator records a steep drop in air pressure, capturing the timing of departure and arrival for every stop along a bird’s migration route.

— Stephanie Szarmach, The Conversation, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of ascends

Verb

This approach aims to reduce dependence on global raw material sources.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2026
As the project grows, it is set to employ up to about 100 people — and Haji said the company aims to source talent locally as much as possible.

— Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of aims

Verb

The next annual release of the Resmed Global Sleep Survey, specifically whether the 39% weekly-disruption figure climbs or holds.

— Lauren Schuster, Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2026
The Bank of Japan meets later this week and is widely expected to hike rates as inflation in the country climbs.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of climbs

Verb

Now, don’t be surprised if Biird soon soars into the upper stratosphere of Irish music.

— Dan Kelly August 30, Kansas City Star, 30 Aug. 2026
But Parton leaves a legacy that soars above all all the songs and movies, all the delightful banter with talk-show hosts and all the beneficiaries of her boundless generosity.

— Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of soars

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“Aspires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aspires. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of aspires

verb

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