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".
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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 optimistically
Vendors talk, perhaps a touch optimistically, of underwriting that once took three days arriving in three minutes.
—
Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Arnold has spoken optimistically about this being a point in time that changes perceptions of Iraq on the world stage, allowing a global audience to see a nation keen to project itself in a more positive light.
—Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 9 June 2026
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
Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Arnold has spoken optimistically about this being a point in time that changes perceptions of Iraq on the world stage, allowing a global audience to see a nation keen to project itself in a more positive light.
—Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 9 June 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for optimistically
Adverb
-
Haiti already faced an uphill climb to get back into this game trailing 2-0, but now their opportunity to draw a point looks positively grim.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
20 June 2026
-
The body discovered earlier this week in Lexington County, South Carolina, has been positively identified as missing fitness trainer Elena Katherine Moore, authorities announced Friday.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
Adverb
-
The Philadelphia Phillies confidently let former All-Star pitcher Ranger Suarez sign with the Boston Red Sox, trusting their deep rotation despite Suarez being a beloved fan favorite and a key player in their recent success, including the 2022 NLCS pennant-clinching out.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
22 June 2026
-
That’s because Noelle’s a different type of protagonist, portrayed confidently by Al Zahrani, a woman contending with her own loss while trying to gain a more prominent job than being the scanner of a police documents.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
18 June 2026
Adverb
-
Not just do it but hopefully crush it.—
Gerrad Hall,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 June 2026
-
But by 1991, readers were older and hopefully better readers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 June 2026
Adverb
-
Golden retrievers remained cheerfully oblivious as usual.—
Pat Beall,
Sun Sentinel,
12 June 2026
-
Among other curiosities were Matthew Howard and Joseph Pereira cheerfully pulverizing Philip Glass’ Fantasy Concerto for Two Timpanists and Orchestra, as well as Boris Allakhverdyan suavely ghosting jazz legend Artie Shaw in his Clarinet Concerto.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Optimistically.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/optimistically. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
