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
This deal with Karademas quickly came together following that initial meeting, says Kemph, who is optimistically shooting for a grand opening for the new Leilani in September or October.
—
Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 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
Meanwhile, perhaps optimistically, the TV Academy isn’t closing the door to once again splitting outstanding variety series into two.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 28 Jan. 2026
Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 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
Meanwhile, perhaps optimistically, the TV Academy isn’t closing the door to once again splitting outstanding variety series into two.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 28 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for optimistically
Adverb
-
Through their investigation, deputies were able to positively identify the suspect as 47-year-old Kurt Gruen, of Grand Terrace in San Bernardino County.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Sometimes peer pressure is used to positively influence people, such as when teens work toward common goals like doing well in school or helping out in their community.—
Amy Morin,
Parents,
3 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
The credibility of the FBI analyst who testified so confidently about the matching hairs began to crumble, along with any faith in hair analysis as a reliable forensic tool.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
-
There is evidence of prehistoric settlement at the site now occupied by Madrid, but the city’s origins can be more confidently traced back to at least the 10th century CE.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Chocolate lovers faced elevated prices over the Easter period, but should hopefully see respite by Halloween, analysts forecast.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
6 Apr. 2026
-
After the lunar flyby, the crew has another four days of (hopefully) mundane travel before a high-energy reentry and splashdown off the coast of San Diego on Friday.—
Noah Haggerty,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
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
-
In Atlanta, my hometown airport, cheerfully marketed as the world’s busiest, had descended into organized chaos.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Optimistically.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/optimistically. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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