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
Relevance
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
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.
Recent Examples of successful
Sharing their experience Now 27 years old, William Hargen has built a successful career in consulting and is about to get married.
—
Kelsie Hoffman, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2026
McBeth had a successful week for Saratoga, defeating her 11th-grade opponent from MacDonald High 13-1 on Tuesday.
—Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2026
My niece is bright, successful and an incredibly hard worker.
—Hope Hunt, Baltimore Sun, 26 Jan. 2026
Between 1965 and 1969, the AEC conducted several successful tests using NERVA reactors at its facilities in New Mexico and Nevada.
—Matthew S Williams, Interesting Engineering, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for successful
Kelsie Hoffman, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2026
McBeth had a successful week for Saratoga, defeating her 11th-grade opponent from MacDonald High 13-1 on Tuesday.
—Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2026
My niece is bright, successful and an incredibly hard worker.
—Hope Hunt, Baltimore Sun, 26 Jan. 2026
Between 1965 and 1969, the AEC conducted several successful tests using NERVA reactors at its facilities in New Mexico and Nevada.
—Matthew S Williams, Interesting Engineering, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for successful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for successful
Adjective
-
Why is Live Nation such a prosperous corporation?—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Iraqi Kurdish leaders courted Western oil companies and turned the territory into what was known as the most prosperous and stable part of Iraq.—
Jane Arraf,
NPR,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Stop and think about what this meant for Live Nation, a formerly thriving commercial entity that achieved commercial success via – yes – live shows the excitement and success of which was rooted in the big, packed crowds that would attend them.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Maryland is a thriving hub for advanced health care and research and development.—
Peter Shen,
Baltimore Sun,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Cloaked in a perfect-from-the-jar marinara sauce and topped with thick slices of mozzarella cheese, crispy chicken cutlets turn golden and bubbly under the oven's broiler.—
Catherine Jessee,
Southern Living,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Its deep red leather upholstered booths work with the golden hues from the candle-and-lamp lights throughout.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Successful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/successful. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
