enterprising

adjective

ˈen-tər-ˌprī-ziŋ How to pronounce enterprising (audio)
Definition of enterprisingnext
1
as in aggressive
having or showing a bold forcefulness in the pursuit of a goal the company is claiming that there will be huge financial rewards for enterprising sales representatives

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in adventurous
inclined or willing to take risks enterprising people of vision were responsible for the boom in technological industries

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 enterprising All Stanford students are ambitious, but many of the most enterprising among them drop out. — Ronan Farrow, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026 Our enterprising Gravedigger, a true woman of science, engineers a lizard elixir and regenerates the finger into a long tentacle that eventually demands a body. — Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026 This was little more than a wooden shack beside a convenience store and a karaoke parlor, all of them run by an enterprising resident who had already buried 200 people in the 12 months since Duterte had taken office, nearly all of them drug suspects. — Sheila Coronel, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026 During the night, an enterprising photographer with a telephoto lens sneaked upstairs in a building opposite Children’s and found a window in line with Patrick’s room. — Steven Levingston, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for enterprising
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enterprising
  1. aggressive
  2. adventurous
  3. ambitious
  4. daring
  5. fierce
Adjective
  • Andersen in particular has struggled with such an aggressive role, where recovery pace and stomping channel defending are required to keep the shape.
    — Thom Harris, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Brown has two catches that converted third downs into firsts, providing a release valve against some aggressive Seahawks blitzes.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of aggressive
Adjective
  • The Moon enters adventurous Leo, stirring your interest in travel, education, or an idea that could expand your options.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Until that point, Birmingham had looked dangerous, conquering the space vacated by City’s adventurous full-backs (in fact, Oceane Hurtre robbed a dithering Jade Rose on the edge of stoppage time for a consolation goal).
    — Katie Whyatt, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of adventurous
Adjective
  • Officials called the dedication the first step in an ambitious process to improve the Tennessee airport near Parton’s final resting place.
    — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The staff’s efforts hit an impasse just as the office romance between Ned (Domhnall Gleeson), the paper’s by-the-book editor in chief, and Mare (Chelsea Frei), one of the few competent and ambitious reporters on staff, becomes a stress point.
    — Senior Television, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of ambitious
Adjective
  • After a few minutes, there was a dive off the arch, followed by a cannonball from the next person, a backflip from a third and then other more spectacular and daring stunts from the flock.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Any caveats about the weather didn’t appear to keep families away from the carnival, as parents and kids advanced from midway games and the carousel to more daring rides like the Ferris wheel and the Ring of Fire.
    — Jim Dudlicek, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of daring
Adjective
  • Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway owns BNSF, and the railroad is a fierce critic of Vena’s takeover bid for Norfolk Southern.
    — John Lippert, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Aaron Donald, one of the fiercest pass rushers in NFL history, is coming out of retirement to rejoin the Rams in hopes of winning another Super Bowl title.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of fierce

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enterprises
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Cite this Entry

“Enterprising.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enterprising. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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