as in candidates
one who seeks an office, honor, position, or award
the three mayoral hopefuls are going to debate on local TV
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 hopefuls
Most recently, Alverson has also dipped his toe into advising sorority hopefuls as a rush coach — part of an emerging market for girls looking to polish up their image before heading off to college.
—
Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
Reid had come to Music City like so many guitar-picking hopefuls.
—Keith Sharon, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Oct. 2025
Possible Democratic presidential hopefuls hit the campaign trail in New Jersey and Virginia as the party tries to chart a path to victory in 2028.
—Christian Orozco, NBC news, 21 Oct. 2025
Entertainment Weekly has an exclusive look at the new trailer for season 2, in which 10 handsome hopefuls compete for the chance to be Hallmark Channel's next Christmas movie star.
—Kristen Baldwin, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Oct. 2025
That’s what six City Council hopefuls sought to answer at a busy forum Tuesday night, where roughly 150 residents gathered to meet the individuals running for two open seats at the helm of the city.
—Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 17 Oct. 2025
This story of a logger (Joel Edgerton) working in the mountainous West as early-20th-century progress rolls over him like a wonder and a curse is the one movie in the streamer’s roster of Oscars hopefuls that people seem actually to love.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
Of course, the roles with the simplest tasks are the first to go, disproportionately affecting young hopefuls looking to start their professional lives.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2025
Platner’s progressive platform places him squarely within the burgeoning class of populist political hopefuls—Zohran Mamdani in New York’s mayoral race, and Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan’s Senate race, to name two—who have seen success in grassroots campaigns which lean heavily on progressive issues.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Oct. 2025
Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
Reid had come to Music City like so many guitar-picking hopefuls.
—Keith Sharon, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Oct. 2025
Possible Democratic presidential hopefuls hit the campaign trail in New Jersey and Virginia as the party tries to chart a path to victory in 2028.
—Christian Orozco, NBC news, 21 Oct. 2025
Entertainment Weekly has an exclusive look at the new trailer for season 2, in which 10 handsome hopefuls compete for the chance to be Hallmark Channel's next Christmas movie star.
—Kristen Baldwin, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Oct. 2025
That’s what six City Council hopefuls sought to answer at a busy forum Tuesday night, where roughly 150 residents gathered to meet the individuals running for two open seats at the helm of the city.
—Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 17 Oct. 2025
This story of a logger (Joel Edgerton) working in the mountainous West as early-20th-century progress rolls over him like a wonder and a curse is the one movie in the streamer’s roster of Oscars hopefuls that people seem actually to love.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
Of course, the roles with the simplest tasks are the first to go, disproportionately affecting young hopefuls looking to start their professional lives.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2025
Platner’s progressive platform places him squarely within the burgeoning class of populist political hopefuls—Zohran Mamdani in New York’s mayoral race, and Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan’s Senate race, to name two—who have seen success in grassroots campaigns which lean heavily on progressive issues.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hopefuls
Noun
-
As electricity bills climb, candidates are turning their fire on data centers in a rare populist backlash that cuts across party lines.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
22 Oct. 2025
-
However, one in five respondents were undecided, underscoring the space that both candidates have to grow their support beyond their party bases.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
From October through November, in addition to weeks-long festivals in major global centers like New York and London, there are a growing number of regional film festivals that host plenty of major contenders.—
Marcus Jones,
IndieWire,
23 Oct. 2025
-
While there’s no place like home, these are all a few worthy close contenders.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Schott says that the partnering universities are required to screen their applicants and choose the top two or three.—
Margaret Buranen,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 2025
-
But the appeals court mandate would mean first-time DACA applicants in Texas would not have the right to work, and existing DACA recipients who are working could lose their ability to do so.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hopefuls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hopefuls. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share