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
-
The governor positively swoons over all these residents.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
7 June 2026
-
Police said O'Flaherty was positively identified as the suspect responsible for the Wheeler Road break-in and was arrested by the Mashpee Police Department.—
Tammy Mutasa,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
Adverb
-
Choose practical steps that strengthen stability now, then relax confidently.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
-
In the latter category is the childhood home of Mary (Renate Reinsve), a psychiatrist who confidently expounds her therapeutic philosophy in her sessions with clients and on late-night TV commercials promoting her self-help audio cassette tapes.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
6 June 2026
Adverb
-
The latter happens to be closer to my own perspective, and hopefully that comes through the book.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
-
Crawford’s attorney, EmmaLee Wilson said these types of cases are aimed at holding the department accountable and hopefully affecting some kind of change in the department.—
Ben Wheeler
June 8,
Kansas City Star,
8 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 9 Jun. 2026.
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