expectant 1 of 2

1
as in eager
having or showing signs of eagerly awaiting something expectant crowds gathered at the spot where the President was scheduled to make an appearance

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2
as in pregnant
containing unborn young within the body a medication that should not be taken by expectant women without permission from their doctors

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

expectant

2 of 2

noun

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 expectant
Adjective
Myers takes what could easily become an underwhelming topic and elevates it to a song of yearning, expectant romance. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 18 Aug. 2025 In the second picture, the expectant parents shared a sweet kiss. Kayla Grant, People.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
That was the conclusion reached following an experiment in which the brains of 20 expectant fathers were scanned before and after the birth of a baby, and then compared with the brains of 17 childless men. Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025 However, Reddit users were firmly on the expectant mom's side, noting that her mother-in-law's insistence on being included in the birth plans is steamrolling her wishes. Sara Belcher, People.com, 15 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for expectant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expectant
Adjective
  • What started as a one-off Eventbrite invitation to a pop-up called Mic Drop Workshop has, seven years later, grown into the leading pipeline of women speakers ready for the stage; and the first stop for event planners eager to bring more female voices to the mic.
    Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Head coach Dave Canales, who met with Hooker twice during the pre-draft process, was eager to work with him, and the 27-year-old QB was quick to accept the Panthers’ offer as his official NFL second chance.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Veronique, a clever favorite, learns her lover is the king, becomes pregnant and is quietly married off, never to return.
    Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Hager was pregnant during filming, which may have contributed to her departure.
    EW.com, EW.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Jim Walden, independent candidate for New York City mayor, on Tuesday dropped out of the race while calling on other hopefuls to get behind the second-most popular choice in an effort to defeat New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani.
    Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
  • The candidate attends a one-week selection process and a 10-week training program.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The 17-year-old joins a steady stream of fighters on mats spattered with sweat, blood and occasional tears to spar under the watchful eye of Mansouri, a former professional MMA fighter who founded the space in 2020.
    Will Carless, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
  • The church that three days before was filled with excited students and watchful teachers at the start of a new school year is now a crime scene.
    Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Jim Walden, independent candidate for New York City mayor, on Tuesday dropped out of the race while calling on other hopefuls to get behind the second-most popular choice in an effort to defeat New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani.
    Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Meanwhile, best actor hopefuls made their presence felt.
    Clayton Davis, Variety, 1 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • She’s best known for her enthusiastic and approachable ditties on key subjects, like potty training.
    Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Educators and parents are increasingly enthusiastic that matching learning styles to students will reap academic rewards.
    Suzanne Wright, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • If the applicant is on a 24-month extension, add 60 days to this figure for a total of 150 days of being unemployed and remaining compliant.
    Sophie Alcorn, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
  • The five prompts explore how applicants’ backgrounds could add to a diversity of perspectives on campus.
    Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Over the last half-billion years, squid, octopuses and their kin have evolved much like a fireworks display, with long, anticipatory pauses interspersed with intense, explosive changes.
    Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 28 Aug. 2025
  • Instead of waiting for a complaint, an anticipatory agent acts first.
    Vikas Aron, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Expectant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expectant. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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