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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Recent Examples of hopefuls
Bassini has observed the circuit of influencers and hopefuls who try a more demanding don’t-you-know-who-I-am approach, only to see them get turned away unceremoniously each time.
—
Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
The schedule doesn’t offer a respite from playoff hopefuls until the final series of the season, a three-game set against the Rockies.
—Evan Webeck, Mercury News, 9 Sep. 2025
The conference wasn’t visited by any 2028 hopefuls, but the conversation is clearly about getting the non-MAGA party in line behind this.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025
One of the highlights of Golden Bachelor season one was seeing the empowering women who came on national television looking for a second or perhaps third chance at love breakout to stardom, and a teaser (below) shows that this new batch of hopefuls in their golden years is just as impressive.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
Jim Walden, independent candidate for New York City mayor, on Tuesday dropped out of the race while calling on other hopefuls to get behind the second-most popular choice in an effort to defeat New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani.
—Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Democratic candidates weigh in Kansas’ Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls expressed uniform contempt towards the idea of reimagining the state’s congressional boundaries.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2025
And after a 10-8 loss the day before, Detroit pitching has already given up 22 runs to the National League playoff hopefuls in just two games.
—Christian Romo, Freep.com, 3 Sep. 2025
These pre-experience degrees are surging in popularity around the world, and some countries are accepting a larger percentage of young hopefuls.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2025
Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
The schedule doesn’t offer a respite from playoff hopefuls until the final series of the season, a three-game set against the Rockies.
—Evan Webeck, Mercury News, 9 Sep. 2025
The conference wasn’t visited by any 2028 hopefuls, but the conversation is clearly about getting the non-MAGA party in line behind this.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025
One of the highlights of Golden Bachelor season one was seeing the empowering women who came on national television looking for a second or perhaps third chance at love breakout to stardom, and a teaser (below) shows that this new batch of hopefuls in their golden years is just as impressive.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
Jim Walden, independent candidate for New York City mayor, on Tuesday dropped out of the race while calling on other hopefuls to get behind the second-most popular choice in an effort to defeat New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani.
—Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Democratic candidates weigh in Kansas’ Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls expressed uniform contempt towards the idea of reimagining the state’s congressional boundaries.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2025
And after a 10-8 loss the day before, Detroit pitching has already given up 22 runs to the National League playoff hopefuls in just two games.
—Christian Romo, Freep.com, 3 Sep. 2025
These pre-experience degrees are surging in popularity around the world, and some countries are accepting a larger percentage of young hopefuls.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hopefuls
Noun
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When the cooperation agreement expired, however, Biglari immediately returned to his old ways, announcing his intention to nominate five candidates to Cracker Barrel’s board.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
18 Sep. 2025
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With Petro’s term coming to an end next year and the leader not up for reelection, candidates may seek to rile up anti-American sentiment in the country or to appeal to Trump by campaigning for a tougher approach.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Yet Harris lingers near the top of the 2028 Democratic presidential contenders in most polling because the party lacks viable alternatives with comparable name identification.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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With seven races remaining in the Xfinity Series season, Eckes is ready to play spoiler and steal a victory from one of the playoff contenders.—
Joseph Wolkin,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Eighty-nine applicants from thirty-seven countries received their certificates of citizenship.—
Toby Meyjes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
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At the time, applicants were required to take four to six hours of classroom instruction on firearm safety and laws.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hopefuls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hopefuls. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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