as in dreamers
a person who usually expects good things to happen
You have to be a bit of an optimist to start a business. Somehow he remained an optimist despite all that had happened to him.
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Recent Examples of optimists
Occasionally, optimists are right, even in the Middle East.
—
Nicholas D. Kristof, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
Even within the reskilling optimists’ own framework, the math raises questions.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
But even the optimists acknowledge that the longer the war goes on, the more the Gulf region’s extraordinary vulnerabilities will be exposed.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
Humanoid robotics may take longer than optimists expect.
—Ravin Gandhi, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2026
The optimists will say inconsistency is a product of experimentation.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026
Some posters have given it one star, but Galimova—along with several other optimists—gave it five, as if this gesture of good will might somehow be reciprocated with information.
—Sophie Spiegelberger, New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2026
And Cain and guitarist Neal Schon appear to have remained among the cockeyed optimists.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 20 Feb. 2026
Those who give themselves an 8 or higher on the question about the future are categorized as optimists.
—Linley Sanders, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Nicholas D. Kristof, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
Even within the reskilling optimists’ own framework, the math raises questions.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
But even the optimists acknowledge that the longer the war goes on, the more the Gulf region’s extraordinary vulnerabilities will be exposed.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
Humanoid robotics may take longer than optimists expect.
—Ravin Gandhi, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2026
The optimists will say inconsistency is a product of experimentation.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026
Some posters have given it one star, but Galimova—along with several other optimists—gave it five, as if this gesture of good will might somehow be reciprocated with information.
—Sophie Spiegelberger, New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2026
And Cain and guitarist Neal Schon appear to have remained among the cockeyed optimists.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 20 Feb. 2026
Those who give themselves an 8 or higher on the question about the future are categorized as optimists.
—Linley Sanders, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for optimists
Noun
-
The steady flow of people and cash attracts dreamers and strivers with the promise of a good job and an affordable home.—
Jonathan J. Cooper,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Manufacturing scale will separate winners from dreamers.—
Ravin Gandhi,
CNBC,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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For the romantics who fall fast and get attached quickly, the early stages of dating are rarely casual—and can feel as if they’re designed to hurt.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
3 Mar. 2026
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The dining room — lined with comfy booths and bedecked with Grandmillennial art — is a spectrum of stroller-pushers, youthful friend groups and silver-haired romantics.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Optimists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/optimists. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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