as in promising
having qualities which inspire hope
the economic predictions for the coming year are actually quite optimistic
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 optimistic
Many are optimistic the recent leadership change will begin to bear fruit.
—
Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 10 Feb. 2026
Democrats’ optimism fell significantly Americans’ attitudes toward the future tend to shift when a new political party enters the White House — generally, the party in power grows more optimistic, while the party without control is more down.
—Linley Sanders, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Across income levels, Americans earning under $15,000 remain the least optimistic of any group.
—Josh Tanenbaum, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
Moos wrote that Ted Carter, who was Nebraska’s president from 2020-2023, also was optimistic about the idea.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for optimistic
Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 10 Feb. 2026
Democrats’ optimism fell significantly Americans’ attitudes toward the future tend to shift when a new political party enters the White House — generally, the party in power grows more optimistic, while the party without control is more down.
—Linley Sanders, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Across income levels, Americans earning under $15,000 remain the least optimistic of any group.
—Josh Tanenbaum, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
Moos wrote that Ted Carter, who was Nebraska’s president from 2020-2023, also was optimistic about the idea.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for optimistic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for optimistic
Adjective
-
One particularly promising application involves tracking when the ball crosses the sideline during kickoffs and punts.—
Jason Corso,
Fortune,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Often, even the most promising young prospects disappear.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Statues of prominent citizens line the route, many missing heads or limbs, while religious and civic buildings once painted in bright colors now appear butter-yellow.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Despite the loss, the future is bright for the Patriots and but first there's the reaction from after the Super Bowl.—
Will Richmond,
The Providence Journal,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
His assistant coach, Pablo Remon Arteta, is Mikel Arteta’s cousin, a detail seized upon by the local media, hopeful that defensive organisation runs in that family.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Although hopeful, other Republicans did not follow the president’s lead in downplaying their loss.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Optimistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/optimistic. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
