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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of hopeful
Mithil Aggarwal,
NBC news,
20 June 2026
The vibes were more hopeful but still mixed for the future of Latinxs in Hollywood at the most recent iteration of the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival, which took place last month.
—
Carlos De Loera,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Erin Vanderhoof,
Vanity Fair,
17 June 2026
Politicos and hopefuls, seeing others’ pins on display, brought theirs in as a form of competition.
—
A.d. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for hopeful
Adjective
But Girijesh, who, like Saxena, also took the exams last year, is not very hopeful.
—
Mithil Aggarwal,
NBC news,
20 June 2026
The vibes were more hopeful but still mixed for the future of Latinxs in Hollywood at the most recent iteration of the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival, which took place last month.
—
Carlos De Loera,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Noun
Political history is littered with hopefuls who took strong partisan positions during primaries, then tried to tack to the center during the general election—sometimes successfully, sometimes not.
—
Erin Vanderhoof,
Vanity Fair,
17 June 2026
Politicos and hopefuls, seeing others’ pins on display, brought theirs in as a form of competition.
—
A.d. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for hopeful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hopeful
Adjective
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The findings suggest that boron nitride nanotubes could serve as a promising platform for next-generation separation technologies.
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Unfortunately, 29-year-old’s promising career suffered a tragic end.
Adjective
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That's encouraging to me that people were holding on.
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Then, before the half-time whistle, Vinicius Jr helped himself to his second goal in as many games, an encouraging start for Brazil’s attacking superstar who has often failed to live up to expectations in a national team jersey.
Noun
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Although researchers have not determined their origin, many consider Cheyava Falls one of the strongest potential biosignature candidates discovered on Mars.
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The results in New York affirm that socialists are on the rise and likely will field a presidential candidate in 2028.
Adjective
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Both Perez and Conine began rehab assignments with Triple A Jacksonville this week, and Marlins manager Clayton McCullough was optimistic about both players’ trajectories.
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That is a loss, on paper, in the optimistic scenario, and if the number of visitors falls short, the gap only widens.
Adjective
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Control Process has won consecutive international arbitration proceedings, including favorable rulings from the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris.
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Purvis said the cost of Impossible products has increased over time despite his efforts to work closely with suppliers and provide forecasts to help secure favorable pricing.
Noun
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Anthony Elanga puts up a contender for the goal of the tournament with a rocket from the corner of the box into the left side of the net to bring this one back even at one goal apiece in the 62nd minute.
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Matthew Brewer, previously the CHA’s interim CEO and board chair, declared his candidacy in the 2027 mayoral race, the latest addition to a widening pool of contenders.
Adjective
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Tree was recognizable for his bright fashion, mullet haircut with prominent bangs, thin mustache and encouraging outlook.
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For starters, bright colors inject visibility – not merely for players looking to find each other amid the chaos of a World Cup match, but also for brands looking to draw the gazes of millions of onlooking fans towards their logo.
Adjective
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Sandy is happy with the decision as well.
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The open-air happy-hour atmosphere is laid-back, family-friendly, community-oriented, and tropical while still delivering on quality music.
Cite this Entry
“Hopeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hopeful. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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