1
as in prosperous
having attained a desired end or state of good fortune
the play had a successful run on Broadway
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in thriving
marked by vigorous growth and well-being especially economically
sold their successful dry-cleaning business and retired to Hawaii
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of successful
Mitchell was the architect behind Proposition 50, last year’s successful ballot initiative to redraw California’s congressional districts.
—
Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 1 June 2026
Coming off a successful 2025 season, Johnson is encouraged by the foundation that seems to be in place.
—Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 1 June 2026
The most successful modern organizations —Nvidia under Jensen Huang, Microsoft under Satya Nadella, Netflix launched by Reed Hastings, Amazon launched by Jeff Bezos — thrive by making customer obsession central to everything the firm does.
—Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
The words he’s used in several meetings are that next season will not be much different than the successful year the program just completed.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for successful
Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 1 June 2026
Coming off a successful 2025 season, Johnson is encouraged by the foundation that seems to be in place.
—Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 1 June 2026
The most successful modern organizations —Nvidia under Jensen Huang, Microsoft under Satya Nadella, Netflix launched by Reed Hastings, Amazon launched by Jeff Bezos — thrive by making customer obsession central to everything the firm does.
—Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
The words he’s used in several meetings are that next season will not be much different than the successful year the program just completed.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for successful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for successful
Adjective
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She’s being raised in upper crust Gilead society, tutored in a private girls’ school led by Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) for a potential prosperous husband, specifically one in the upper ranks of the military.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
27 May 2026
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Ten minutes down the road from Thiepval, on the other side of the highway leading to today’s prosperous French border city of Amiens, lies the German war cemetery at Fricourt.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
Downtown Dorado has every shop and service vital to a thriving community.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
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Soon, a thriving gray market emerged, with BPC-157 as one of its stars.—
Sara Talpos — Undark,
STAT,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
Using whole eggs or extra yolks rather than egg whites (the binder of choice for white cake) gives the cake its warm, golden color.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
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In the course of reality TV’s 20-some-odd years golden era, a cheating scandal is almost as certain as a public screaming match in an unsuspecting local restaurant.—
Alexandra Hildreth,
Vogue,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Successful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/successful. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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