1
as in promising
having qualities which inspire hope
economists are offering a hopeful forecast for a healthy economy in the coming year
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in encouraging
pointing toward a happy outcome
in a hopeful response to the ad, several people called to say they'd seen our lost cat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in candidate
one who seeks an office, honor, position, or award
the three mayoral hopefuls are going to debate on local TV
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hopeful
Joey Cappelletti, Fortune, 5 June 2026
Goldman Sachs was more hopeful, saying the new Siri could become a key demand driver for the iPhone and support services growth if developers use Apple Intelligence tools to build new apps.
—Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 5 June 2026
Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 2 June 2026
One of the hopefuls is And Justice for All, a series based on the 1979 movie starring Al Pacino, Deadline has learned.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for hopeful
Adjective
Candidates such as New York Democratic House hopeful Alex Bores have also made AI regulation a campaign issue by tapping into voters’ angst about the technology.
—Joey Cappelletti, Fortune, 5 June 2026
Goldman Sachs was more hopeful, saying the new Siri could become a key demand driver for the iPhone and support services growth if developers use Apple Intelligence tools to build new apps.
—Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 5 June 2026
Noun
Newcomer Annie Fischer faces incumbent Paul Keefer for the District 3 seat, while hopefuls Dominique Donette, Ralph Merletti, Anna Molander Hermann and Davon Thomas compete to represent District 1, where longtime trustee Bina Lefkovitz is not running for reelection.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 2 June 2026
One of the hopefuls is And Justice for All, a series based on the 1979 movie starring Al Pacino, Deadline has learned.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for hopeful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hopeful
Adjective
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The chemistry has therefore emerged as a promising option for large-scale energy storage, where cost, resource availability, and operational reliability are critical factors.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
7 June 2026
-
Next to him is the promising 21-year-old Alex Freeman, the son of a former NFL wide receiver whose athleticism is off the charts but feel for the game is still a work in progress.—
Becky Sullivan,
NPR,
7 June 2026
Adjective
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For the Class of 2026, that’s an encouraging message.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2026
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But the run-up under splash hire coach Mauricio Pochettino has been less than encouraging, though a recent 3-2 friendly win over a stout Senegal squad was a positive.—
Greg Cote
June 4,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2026
Noun
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The results will ease the concerns of some Democrats who worried about the possibility of a runoff between Kiley and Republican candidate Michael Stansfield, who was in second place until Friday.—
Mathew Miranda
June 9,
Sacbee.com,
10 June 2026
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Leading up to the election, for instance, the progressive first-time candidate was leading by as much as 66 percentage points in a University of New Hampshire Survey Center poll released in May.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
Adjective
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Workers who feel optimistic about AI’s effect on their careers report dramatically stronger workplace outcomes across engagement, effort, and intent to stay.—
Matt Rosenbaum,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
-
Her mindset immediately shifted from a sinking feeling to being optimistic about the future.—
Ayren Jackson-Cannady,
SELF,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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In the Eastern Pacific, the opposite occurs, with favorable conditions supporting above-average hurricane season activity.—
Daniel Peck,
ABC News,
11 June 2026
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Forecast confidence is increasing that some storms could become strong to severe on Sunday, especially along and north of I-20, where wind shear will be slightly more favorable for storm organization.—
Nelly Carreño,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
Noun
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The more teams that are legitimate playoff contenders each year in that conference, the better.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
11 June 2026
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Michael Olise — France/Bayern Munich Olise made the leap to serious Ballon d’Or contender last season, tearing apart Bundesliga defences and elite Champions League opponents from his starting position on the right flank.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
Adjective
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Ex-Arsenal player Héctor Bellerín wore bright pink on the Louis Vuitton catwalk in 2019, while Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga walked for Balenciaga in 2022.—
Sheena McKenzie,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
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Deneb is the brightest star in the constellation Cygnus the Swan.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
7 June 2026
Adjective
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For Jean Claude Érable and his bride Solange Hahati, celebrating their wedding on Saturday in such conditions meant having some family members and friends absent on one of their happiest days.—
Justin Kabumba,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
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Not everyone is happy with the decisions, of course.—
Luke Cyphers,
Sportico.com,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hopeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hopeful. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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