positivist 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of positivistnext
as in positivistic

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

positivist

2 of 2

noun

as in optimist

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for positivist
  1. optimistic
  2. optimist
  3. positive
  4. idealist
  5. cheerful
Adjective
  • On the battlefield, Zelenskyy was optimistic, saying Ukraine had almost completely regained control of the Dnipropetrovsk region, with only about 10 square kilometers and three small villages remaining outside Ukrainian control.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Mexican producers are optimistic that the border reopening might staunch over a year of financial bleeding.
    — Max Saltman, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of optimistic
Noun
  • Polarized in terms of, like, sometimes people will distinguish AI doomers and AI optimists.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Brynjolfsson calls himself a mindful optimist rather than an unconditional one.
    — Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of optimist
Adjective
  • The economic outlook is also largely positive despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
    — Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • According to the health department, nearly twice as many sample groups of mosquitoes tested positive for West Nile virus this year compared to the same time last year.
    — Katie Houlis, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of positive
Noun
  • Fairness With Conditions Schulz is careful not to present himself as an idealist.
    — Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Doug Gibson, the novel’s closest thing to an idealist, is a pugilistic criminal-defense lawyer, the kind with ads on bus-stop benches.
    — Peter C. Baker, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of idealist
Adjective
  • The town is also locally known for its cheerful embrace of all things Christmas as well.
    — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Rooms feel traditional, yet never fusty, with cheerful blue and green quilts and rich wood furnishings.
    — Lila Harron Battis, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of cheerful
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.

Browse Nearby Words

positives
positivist
positivistic
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Positivist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/positivist. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of southpaw

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Why do we say 'break a leg'?

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All