as in ambitious
having a strong desire for personal advancement
an aspiring young pianist eager to win the prestigious competition
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in planning
to have in mind as a purpose or goal
aspire to great deeds, and you have a better chance of doing good deeds
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in rising
to move or extend upward
a tower aspiring towards the heavens
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of aspiring
Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2026
The aspiring politician has amassed a large following online.
—Emily Kelleher, InStyle, 6 Apr. 2026
Jason Cooke, Boston Herald, 12 Apr. 2026
But Wood, Mallis, and co-writer Weston Auburn satirize the subtle ways that aspiring filmmakers, programmers, and cinephiles talk to each other so effectively that the film should charm its intended audience.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for aspiring
Adjective
Stephanie Christian said the funding provided by the TREP program was appealing for an aspiring teacher who would enter a historically lower-paying career.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2026
The aspiring politician has amassed a large following online.
—Emily Kelleher, InStyle, 6 Apr. 2026
Verb
Despite the loss, Keller had a message for aspiring hockey players in the crowd on Saturday.
—Jason Cooke, Boston Herald, 12 Apr. 2026
But Wood, Mallis, and co-writer Weston Auburn satirize the subtle ways that aspiring filmmakers, programmers, and cinephiles talk to each other so effectively that the film should charm its intended audience.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for aspiring
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aspiring
Adjective
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The agency has even more ambitious plans in the years ahead — including putting boots down on the moon just a couple of years from now.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
11 Apr. 2026
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The actress puts her Broadway chops to good use as the ambitious perfectionist (and Barbra Streisand obsessive) Rachel Berry on Glee, earning Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for the role.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As a result, South Korean firms Samsung and SK Hynix are planning to ramp up production capacity, which will require ASML machinery.—
Arjun Kharpal,
CNBC,
15 Apr. 2026
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The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, a newspaper based in a Pittsburgh suburb, had been planning to add staff in Pittsburgh and begin publishing a weekend city edition the week after the Post-Gazette was set to close.—
David Bauder,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But there are concerns about rising ticket prices and soaring production budgets, fueled by higher costs for labor, materials and energy.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Apr. 2026
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The group announced the new mutual aid market on social media, citing community concerns over rising costs as the motivation behind the move.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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While many leave college intending to return, few ultimately do.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
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Bishop acquired the property, intending to preserve the inactive cemetery as a memorial site for the military veterans buried there, some dating back to the Civil War.—
Nicole Comstock,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Wallace won the team’s only race at the Brickyard 400, and an organization that seemed to be ascending suddenly appeared to have leveled off a bit.—
Dave Skretta,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Apr. 2026
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In early 1961, nine years after ascending to the throne of the United Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth II made her first visit as monarch to India and Pakistan, among other destinations.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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After looking at the latest data, rain forecasts for early next week have decreased.—
Michael Autovino,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
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The Huskies posted the job opening on Monday and will be looking for an experienced coach who is obsessed and willing to take on the demand of working for Hurley.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As optimism over an extended ceasefire grew, oil prices fell early Friday after climbing a day earlier.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
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Air New Zealand will soon offer a solution that involves climbing into a triple-tier bunk bed wearing special socks.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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New Glenn’s first stage continued a downrange parabolic arc, briefly soaring into space before guiding itself toward Blue Origin’s landing platform in the Atlantic Ocean nearly 400 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
19 Apr. 2026
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But all was not well in America in 1976, in the aftermath of the unpopular Vietnam War and the presidential scandal that was Watergate, and beset by soaring gasoline prices amid crisis in the Middle East.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Aspiring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aspiring. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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