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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in candidate
one who seeks an office, honor, position, or award
divinity students who were all expectants for a curacy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of expectant
Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 18 Sep. 2025
Attractions include kitschy traditions such as a butter-sculpting demonstration, in which a master carver crafts a bust of the winner of the annual Princess Kay of the Milky Way pageant, and the Miracle of Birth Center, displaying pens of expectant farm animals.
—Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
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
Adjective
Industry players were alert and expectant, even as costs at home remain high.
—Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 18 Sep. 2025
Attractions include kitschy traditions such as a butter-sculpting demonstration, in which a master carver crafts a bust of the winner of the annual Princess Kay of the Milky Way pageant, and the Miracle of Birth Center, displaying pens of expectant farm animals.
—Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 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
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Legacy OEMs joined in on the action, as well, with debuts from McLaren and Rolls-Royce drawing crowds eager to get up close and personal or snap a selfie with the latest and greatest.—
Michael Van Runkle,
Robb Report,
4 Nov. 2025
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While Williams has always kept her love life private, fans are eager to know more about the man who captured her heart.—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Their indie folk band, The Hypsonics, released a gold record 12 years earlier, but just as their collective music career was about to take flight, Jennifer became pregnant with their now 12-year-old daughter, Stevie (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport).—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Nov. 2025
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Medullary bone is temporary tissue that forms inside a cavity in long bones of birds and dinosaurs to provide calcium for eggshells, and was previously used in research to identify a pregnant Tyrannosaurus rex in 2016.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Democratic socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani has been declared the next mayor of New York City, according to NBC News and CNN.—
Dan Gooding,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
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In exchange for Lee burying the Indian Head Hills land-deal story — which, on paper, looked like a candidate taking a bribe from Trip and the Nazis — Donald agrees to give up the land.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Then, in September and October, Ali, Mahmoud and Person 1 began practicing at local shooting ranges, under the watchful eye of FBI agents, the complaint states.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Robin is about 30% autonomous, while a team of operators working remotely controls the rest under the watchful eyes of clinical staff.—
HALLIE GOLDEN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Last, but not least, hopefuls need to share a couple of recent photos and a video of themselves.—
Emy LaCroix,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
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His list of 53 endorsements on social media Sunday boosted first-time hopefuls and sitting governors such as Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R-AR), but Earle-Sears’s name was missing.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Obama’s enthusiastic showings for both candidates was a test of whether his sway over the Democratic Party still remains after his support for Harris failed to boost her to the White House a year ago and angered black male voters who felt unfairly accused of sexism.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Nov. 2025
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Thornton did not respond to our request for comment on this story, but IndieWire found proof of public interactions Bolea had with the actor, positioning them as enthusiastic supporters of each other’s work at a time when love for Art the Clown was spreading quickly.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Her decision comes two weeks after council members opened the process to new applicants, following a deadlock after city leaders could not agree who should be appointed to fill the seat.—
Hannah Elsmore,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
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After a marathon of presentations and interviews Thursday, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors narrowed a field of 12 applicants to three finalists for sheriff — a position the board now has the rare opportunity to fill.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Haq said the agency is also preparing to deliver anticipatory electronic money distributions totaling $900,000 to meet urgent humanitarian needs for about 45,000 people.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
-
The late Christopher Gray once wrote about the anticipatory destruction of the Cherokee Club, a sweet building from 1890 that was taken down in the late 1970s.—
Christopher Bonanos,
Curbed,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Expectant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expectant. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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