as in positively
in a positive or optimistic manner
After months of dwindling sales, the manager declared optimistically that "there is no place to go but up from here".
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Recent Examples of optimistically
Last month, the governor optimistically suggested that the bridge could be open as soon as 2030, with aspirations of him cutting the ribbon for the new bridge.
—
Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 29 Apr. 2026
Counsell said Tuesday that Palencia was responding well and optimistically could be back in two weeks.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Once upon a time, a kids spa treatment meant glitter nail polish, a side braid and maybe a cucumber slice perched optimistically on a 9-year-old’s forehead.
—Kathryn Romeyn, HollywoodReporter, 24 Mar. 2026
In their January interview with IndieWire, Colligan and Garrett spoke optimistically about their business plan — but did not immediately respond to our request for comment.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 23 Mar. 2026
The last time Jay Bhattacharya testified before Congress, in early February, the biomedical research community watched optimistically as the National Institutes of Health director downplayed the impact of last fall’s government shutdown on the pace of grant funding.
—Anil Oza, STAT, 17 Mar. 2026
Before arriving, Warr also used Google Lens to search through the listing photos, and is confident that the Birth of Venus painting—recreated this time with furry cats—is worth $20 at most, even though the seller will optimistically tap her for $50.
—Zoey Goto, Vogue, 9 Mar. 2026
More optimistically, Templeman said that information technology as a whole is now trading on par with the rest of the market, even below valuations seen during the 2022 sell-off, at least in relative terms.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2026
Anaheim’s tourism bureau saw 2025 slowed by fires, inflation, tariffs and geopolitical issues, but Visit Anaheim President and CEO Mike Waterman optimistically said 2026 is poised to be the best year in the organization’s 65-year history.
—Victoria Le, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 29 Apr. 2026
Counsell said Tuesday that Palencia was responding well and optimistically could be back in two weeks.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Once upon a time, a kids spa treatment meant glitter nail polish, a side braid and maybe a cucumber slice perched optimistically on a 9-year-old’s forehead.
—Kathryn Romeyn, HollywoodReporter, 24 Mar. 2026
In their January interview with IndieWire, Colligan and Garrett spoke optimistically about their business plan — but did not immediately respond to our request for comment.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 23 Mar. 2026
The last time Jay Bhattacharya testified before Congress, in early February, the biomedical research community watched optimistically as the National Institutes of Health director downplayed the impact of last fall’s government shutdown on the pace of grant funding.
—Anil Oza, STAT, 17 Mar. 2026
Before arriving, Warr also used Google Lens to search through the listing photos, and is confident that the Birth of Venus painting—recreated this time with furry cats—is worth $20 at most, even though the seller will optimistically tap her for $50.
—Zoey Goto, Vogue, 9 Mar. 2026
More optimistically, Templeman said that information technology as a whole is now trading on par with the rest of the market, even below valuations seen during the 2022 sell-off, at least in relative terms.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2026
Anaheim’s tourism bureau saw 2025 slowed by fires, inflation, tariffs and geopolitical issues, but Visit Anaheim President and CEO Mike Waterman optimistically said 2026 is poised to be the best year in the organization’s 65-year history.
—Victoria Le, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for optimistically
Adverb
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With her backless white Stella McCartney gown, halo of curls and tiara, Kate Hudson looked positively angelic at the 2003 Met Gala.—
Alex Apatoff,
PEOPLE,
2 May 2026
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According to court documents, both female victims positively identified Anderson as the woman who assaulted them.—
Alexa Ashwell,
Baltimore Sun,
1 May 2026
Adverb
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Super, who joined Victoria’s Secret from Savage x Fenty in 2024, has overseen something of a renaissance at the brand, which is more confidently projecting its image out to the world with its famed runway show.—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
4 May 2026
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Shifting gears confidently into the second half of the season, this week’s episode has a more cohesive feel than the show has been able to manage so far, turning a series of interrelated crises into a Magnolia-esque montage of desperation from most of the major characters.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
3 May 2026
Adverb
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By flipping the switch, the aim is to look at fashion and the human form with a wider, and hopefully, wiser lens that considers our commonality, too.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
4 May 2026
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Minnesota Timberwolves general manager Matt Lloyd is hopefully adept at multitasking.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
Adverb
-
Indeed, Calvin is cheerfully lobotomizing a snowman.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Apr. 2026
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In Atlanta, my hometown airport, cheerfully marketed as the world’s busiest, had descended into organized chaos.—
Bill Barrow,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Optimistically.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/optimistically. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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