HOPEFUL Synonyms: 126 Similar and Opposite Words

hopeful 1 of 2

adjective

ˈhōp-fəl

Definition of hopeful

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

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

hopeful

2 of 2

noun

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 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 hopeful

Adjective

Republicans are hopeful that New York GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman, who serves as Nassau County executive, can run up a big total in the jurisdiction that will sweep Suozzi and Gillen out of office. — Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 8 Oct. 2026 What a gorgeous gift, to remain hopeful even when in the bowels of hell. — Rachel Goldberg-Polin, Time, 6 Oct. 2026

Noun

Complaints from students about deteriorating schools, teacher shortages and heavy class schedules have become the latest cause embraced by some presidential hopefuls. — ABC News, 28 Sep. 2026 Through the final weeks of the season, the Phillies were fighting tooth and nail to secure one of the NL Wild Card positions alongside other postseason hopefuls. — Scott Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hopeful

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hopeful

Adjective

Tens of millions of American children recently gained access to a promising wealth-building tool, though many of their parents probably aren’t even aware of it.

— Editorial Board, Washington Post, 6 Oct. 2026
For chipmakers, the practical focus of the new center is on reducing the gap between finding a promising material and proving that it can be reliably manufactured at the scale and quality required for semiconductor production.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of promising

Noun

Kristin Pawlik and Wendy Howerton garnered the most votes among the three candidates in the March nonpartisan judicial race, but neither got more than the 50% required to win outright.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026
But most Senate Democrats think Colom, a young father, is a stronger candidate in a tough environment for Republicans.

— Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of candidate

Adjective

She’s mentored by Jae (Major Curda), a member of Ellora’s municipal Bending Brigade, and his captain Karthik (Akshay Khanna), who has a more optimistic view of the Avatar’s potential than those that blame her for ending the world.

— Alison Herman, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
Zhang plays optimistic puzzle master Florence, and Sula is Conrad’s estranged daughter and criminal psychologist Astrid.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of optimistic

Adjective

And because Alta sits at a higher elevation in the Wasatch, a favorable shift in the storm track could quickly turn the season around.

— Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
Among his party, Fetterman is performing even worse, with 69% of Democrats having an unfavorable opinion of the senator compared to 13% who have a favorable opinion.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of favorable

Noun

Luis Antonio Tagle, 69, a Filipino cardinal, was appointed by Pope Leo XIV as the new dean of the College of Cardinals, elevating his profile as a papal contender in the process.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
Fall is when studios love to drop some of their juiciest awards-season contenders.

— David Faris, TheWeek, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of contender

Adjective

Le is particularly fond of the store’s Thai green bananas, which remain bright green even when fully ripe and develop an intensely sweet flavor.

— Sara Rosenthal, Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2026
Leaning into its history, Kessler has outfitted the hotel with installations that channel the Jurassic period, including life size dinosaur skeletons and fossils, backlit in a range of bright colors, displayed throughout the walls.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of bright

Adjective

Macaronis are happy in warmer water and have a more varied diet, so are not as reliant on the diminishing krill.

— Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026
And the retroactive nature of the proposal raises potential constitutional questions that some rich folks would be only too happy to test in court.

— Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of happy

Browse Nearby Words

hope (for)

hopeful

hopefully

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Hopeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hopeful. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of hopeful

adjective

noun

Example Sentences

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