HOPE Synonyms: 106 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'hope' contrast with its synonyms?

The words expect and look are common synonyms of hope . While all three words mean "to await some occurrence or outcome," hope implies little certainty but suggests confidence or assurance in the possibility that what one desires or longs for will happen. // hopes to find a job soon

Q: When is 'expect' a more appropriate choice than 'hope'?

In some situations, the words expect and hope are roughly equivalent. However, expect implies a high degree of certainty and usually involves the idea of preparing or envisioning. // expects to be finished by Tuesday

Q: When would 'look' be a good substitute for 'hope'?

While the synonyms look and hope are close in meaning, look , with to , implies assurance that expectations will be fulfilled; with for it implies less assurance and suggests an attitude of expectancy and watchfulness. // looks to a tidy profit from the sale // look for rain when the wind shifts to the northeast

hope 1 of 2

verb

Definition of hope

as in to wish

Related Words

Relevance

hope

2 of 2

noun

as in hopefulness

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

as in confidence

Related Words

as in plan

Related Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb hope contrast with its synonyms?

The words expect and look are common synonyms of hope. While all three words mean "to await some occurrence or outcome," hope implies little certainty but suggests confidence or assurance in the possibility that what one desires or longs for will happen.

hopes to find a job soon

When is expect a more appropriate choice than hope?

In some situations, the words expect and hope are roughly equivalent. However, expect implies a high degree of certainty and usually involves the idea of preparing or envisioning.

expects to be finished by Tuesday

When would look be a good substitute for hope?

While the synonyms look and hope are close in meaning, look, with to, implies assurance that expectations will be fulfilled; with for it implies less assurance and suggests an attitude of expectancy and watchfulness.

looks to a tidy profit from the sale

look for rain when the wind shifts to the northeast

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 hope

Verb

Van Wissen and Lupker hope to expand the service to such fashionable cities as London, New York, Milan and Los Angeles, and are eyeing emerging destinations like Turkey and Morocco, too. — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026 The players on Exhibit 10 deals, including Quinones, hope to wrest one of the Heat’s two-way contracts that currently are held by Tre Donaldson, Vlad Goldin and Keshad Johnson. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2026

Noun

Listen to their thoughts, then speak with hope, honesty and kindness. — Letters To The Editor, Washington Post, 20 Oct. 2026 However, that rate must be ramped up sixfold to have any hope of achieving ambitious five-year targets. — Charlie Campbell, Time, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hope

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hope

Verb

For customers wishing to upgrade older Fireflys, costs come in at around $2,500 (17,000 Yuan) for full purchase or a $450 (3,000 Yuan) service fee for BaaS customers.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
The 11,000-square-foot penthouse in question is being designed by Ferris Rafauli for its current owner, who wishes to remain anonymous.

— Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of wish

Noun

Gays are actually staying in Jamaica, which tells me there’s now a sort of hopefulness.

— Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026
Hope and persistence pay off Some of the happiest children are those who maintain a sense of hopefulness and possibility.

— Liz Rosenberg, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of hopefulness

Noun

There’s a huge confidence chasm between those who approve of the country’s leadership under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and those who don’t — just 37% of the latter have faith in the vote.

— Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Alternatively, depression may involve placing too much confidence in outdated forecasts.

— Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of confidence

Noun

The plan is to find candidates from families that renounced their royal status in 1947, which at the time was to ease the postwar financial burden on the monarchy.

— Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
Swift's childhood was tailor-made for a Hallmark movie—but the future pop star already had other plans.

— Ilaria Perrotta, Vanity Fair, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of plan

Noun

The harder challenge, for Silicon Valley and Washington alike, is earning, and deserving, their trust.

— Will Johnson, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
When Trust Fills The Gap Documentation Leaves When a plan does not answer the questions a client actually has, trust fills the space instead.

— Deric Ned, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of trust

Noun

Our research and engineering remain world-class, but our record of getting ideas to market and improving how products are made has been less stellar.

— Rick Lazio, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
It has also been designed as a neighborhood gathering space, with Apartment at 365, the physical space representing the Happier pillar of discovery, idea exchange, community, creativity and collaboration.

— Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of idea

Verb

Generation and storage, grids, and digital infrastructure all depend on capital that can look beyond short-term market conditions.

— H.E. Dr Abdulla Saif Al Jarwan, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
From the street, the small white building looks slightly out of place among the commercial businesses around it.

— Myla S. Roundy, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of look

Browse Nearby Words

hop

hope

hope chest

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Hope.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hope. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of hope

verb

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

On ‘Hopepunk,’ ‘Mannerpunk,’...

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on hope

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

emissary

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 23

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes

Synonyms of hope

verb

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Articles Related to hope

On ‘Hopepunk,’ ‘Mannerpunk,’...

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on hope

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

emissary

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 23

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes