as in candidates
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 hopefuls
Looking back on the audition process, Whalen shared that many of the hopefuls believed one actor had the role locked down already.
—
Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
For those England hopefuls eyeing up a late run into Thomas Tuchel’s squad for this summer’s World Cup, there is always the hope that, in football, fortunes can quickly change.
—Rob Tanner, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
But before the awards were handed out and rousing acceptance speeches were delivered (which could make all the difference for Oscar hopefuls), all the fashion, outfits, and looks from the Golden Globes red carpet 2026 kicked off the night.
—Maggie Coughlan, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
It’s been a busy week for awards nominations, and now the Producers Guild of America is out with its hopefuls for the PGA Awards spanning film and TV.
—Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 9 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, Oscar hopefuls Frankenstein, Hamnet, and Marty Supreme each nabbed three.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 7 Jan. 2026
DeSantis’ timetable means the normal timetable for congressional hopefuls to officially qualify as candidates has been postponed to June from April.
—Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
Olympic medal winners and Olympic hopefuls skated the ice, including Wisconsin Olympians Eric Heiden, Dan Jansen, Mary Doctor, Darcie Dohnal, Brian Wanek and Dave Besteman.
—Elaine Rewolinski, jsonline.com, 31 Dec. 2025
His list of social-media endorsements in the campaign’s final days included dozens of other GOP hopefuls, but not her.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 6 Nov. 2025
Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
For those England hopefuls eyeing up a late run into Thomas Tuchel’s squad for this summer’s World Cup, there is always the hope that, in football, fortunes can quickly change.
—Rob Tanner, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
But before the awards were handed out and rousing acceptance speeches were delivered (which could make all the difference for Oscar hopefuls), all the fashion, outfits, and looks from the Golden Globes red carpet 2026 kicked off the night.
—Maggie Coughlan, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
It’s been a busy week for awards nominations, and now the Producers Guild of America is out with its hopefuls for the PGA Awards spanning film and TV.
—Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 9 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, Oscar hopefuls Frankenstein, Hamnet, and Marty Supreme each nabbed three.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 7 Jan. 2026
DeSantis’ timetable means the normal timetable for congressional hopefuls to officially qualify as candidates has been postponed to June from April.
—Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
Olympic medal winners and Olympic hopefuls skated the ice, including Wisconsin Olympians Eric Heiden, Dan Jansen, Mary Doctor, Darcie Dohnal, Brian Wanek and Dave Besteman.
—Elaine Rewolinski, jsonline.com, 31 Dec. 2025
His list of social-media endorsements in the campaign’s final days included dozens of other GOP hopefuls, but not her.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 6 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hopefuls
Noun
-
Interviewing Raheem Morris and Antonio Pierce satisfied the NFL's Rooney Rule requirements for minority or female candidates, and Harbaugh's visit to northern New Jersey paved the way to make a hire before any of the more than half-dozen teams with a vacancy.—
STEPHEN WHYNO,
Arkansas Online,
16 Jan. 2026
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Interviewing Raheem Morris and Antonio Pierce satisfied the NFL’s Rooney Rule requirements for minority or female candidates, and Harbaugh’s visit to northern New Jersey paved the way to make a hire before any of the more than half-dozen teams with a vacancy.—
Stephen Whyno,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Speaking on condition of anonymity to protect relationships, numerous sources told Deadline that Apple TV’s Europe chief Jay Hunt, former BBC content boss Charlotte Moore, and ex-Channel 4 CEO Alex Mahon, are among the most serious contenders.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
9 Jan. 2026
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The Bucs were even Super Bowl contenders for a moment, until a division rival crushed their hope for a playoff berth.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The first group conducts the initial review, the second votes on approval or denial, and the third notifies applicants of rejections, offering alternative plate options when needed.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
14 Jan. 2026
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To qualify, applicants must be able to pass a detailed background check.—
Ramona Sentinel,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hopefuls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hopefuls. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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