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
But the county found the Rays’ proposal leaned too optimistically on a sales tax known as the Community Investment Tax, which most commissioners said in 2024 would not go to a new stadium.
—
Nicolas Villamil, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 May 2026
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
Nicolas Villamil, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 May 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for optimistically
Adverb
-
With the new lead, detectives were able to positively confirm that the long-unidentified remains belonged to Sipfle, the outlets reported.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
31 May 2026
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Bear confirmed their brother Noah was the one to positively identify Matt.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2026
Adverb
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That trend is accelerating, as each successive generation is entering markets earlier and more confidently than the last.—
Harry Temkin,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
Some confidently lifted their hooves to remove dirt.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 May 2026
Adverb
-
The foundation gives out grants to artists — hopefully just giving artists money.—
Nick Newman,
IndieWire,
1 June 2026
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There will be a second docket report within a year, and hopefully, within the next 18 and 24 months, there'll be a final report.—
Briseida Holguin,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
Adverb
-
Some are even cheerfully embracing a world where human labor is no longer central to the economy.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
30 May 2026
-
Some are even cheerfully embracing a world where human labor is no longer central to the economy.—
Nathan Schneider,
The Conversation,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Optimistically.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/optimistically. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
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