as in possibilities
something that can develop or become actual
a time when cloning was merely a potential and the stuff of science fiction
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Recent Examples of potentials
That’s no longer the case, and suddenly the possibilities for who wins this category are endless, with Taylor, Wicked’s Ariana Grande, and Sentimental Value’s Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas all feeling like potentials at this stage.
—
Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
Writing on future potentials for synthetic biology in 1912, none other than Stéphane Leduc — the scientist who, as previously mentioned, gave the field its name — made precisely this claim.
—Thomas Moynihan, Big Think, 15 Sep. 2025
However, the Environmental Protection Agency has been working to phase out products like Forane 134a to instead use items with reduced global warming potentials.
—Olivia Evans, The Courier-Journal, 26 Aug. 2025
But from the first eight months of the year, Warner Bros looks to be in the prime starting position with a couple of surprises from the horror genre — Sinners and Weapons — leading the pack of potentials, and Apple’s summer smash F1, for which Warner Bros is handling the theatrical release.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 22 Aug. 2025
This is possible because different elements have distinct formation potentials, allowing for their individual recovery in a high-purity metallic form.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 16 Aug. 2025
The Tigers should feel good about at least one of those starts in Minneapolis, as the final name on our 3,500-K potentials list is slated to open the series.
—Ryan Ford, Freep.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
Writing on future potentials for synthetic biology in 1912, none other than Stéphane Leduc — the scientist who, as previously mentioned, gave the field its name — made precisely this claim.
—Thomas Moynihan, Big Think, 15 Sep. 2025
However, the Environmental Protection Agency has been working to phase out products like Forane 134a to instead use items with reduced global warming potentials.
—Olivia Evans, The Courier-Journal, 26 Aug. 2025
But from the first eight months of the year, Warner Bros looks to be in the prime starting position with a couple of surprises from the horror genre — Sinners and Weapons — leading the pack of potentials, and Apple’s summer smash F1, for which Warner Bros is handling the theatrical release.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 22 Aug. 2025
This is possible because different elements have distinct formation potentials, allowing for their individual recovery in a high-purity metallic form.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 16 Aug. 2025
The Tigers should feel good about at least one of those starts in Minneapolis, as the final name on our 3,500-K potentials list is slated to open the series.
—Ryan Ford, Freep.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for potentials
Noun
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Related Stories Gimple likened the storytelling possibilities to the intricate canon of stories and characters assembled by DC and Marvel in the comic book realm.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
14 Oct. 2025
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But the researchers who revealed the discovery of the planet ruled out some possibilities.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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And where there is injustice and frustration, the potentialities for violence are greater.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Mei and Mericle do find that AI appears to be hurting the employment prospects of young technology workers, especially those in areas exposed to automation, while the overall macro impact is limited, citing similar research by economist Erik Brynjolfsson and the Yale Budget Lab.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
14 Oct. 2025
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But the White Sox, who outrighted four other players off the 40-man roster on Monday, appear to be clearing space on the 40-man roster to make room for prospects who would otherwise be subject to the Rule 5 Draft.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Potentials.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/potentials. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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