Thesaurus results for WANNABE

wannabe

noun

ˈwä-nə-ˌbē

variants also wannabee

Definition of wannabe

as in follower

a person who adopts the appearance or behavior of another especially in an obvious way an entrepreneur who seems to have made his fortune mainly by giving how-to-get-rich lectures to entrepreneurial wannabes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 wannabe In 2022, when McKee was seeking his first full four-year term in a crowded field of wannabes that included Foulkes in her first run, McKee got the votes of 81 of 159 delegates, edging out then Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea, who took 58 votes. — Katherine Gregg, The Providence Journal, 20 June 2026 The idea that Bessette was some sort of wannabe was anathema for Hines. — Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 10 June 2026 Can Phillies fans and wannabe Nola buy-lowers take heart in the improving Stuff+ numbers? — Eno Sarris, New York Times, 9 June 2026 And they’ve been worn by working cowboys and just about every Western wannabe in the country. — Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 8 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for wannabe

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wannabe

Noun

For a long time, sleep research has treated the cerebral cortex as a passive follower reacting to signals from the deep brain.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2026
His upcoming show next week promises to be another cheeky affair, at least judging by the teaser Martens shared with his 367,000 followers on Instagram on Thursday that showed a woman’s butt and men’s abs behind a steamy glass panel.

— Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of follower

Noun

The account has amassed over 10,000 followers, inspiring imitator accounts.

— Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Few people on the continent seem to recognize that multibillion investments by US companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Amazon in space, and their many imitators in China, are radically transforming spaceflight.

— Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of imitator

Noun

Nevertheless, the sight of the 20-year-old Slovenian riding clear up the famed Calo Alto, seven years on from a similarly callow Pogačar seizing his first Grand Tour stage victory, provide a resounding echo.

— Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Jäger compares the sounds of techno to the noise of Detroit’s industrial machinery—the music that drove the ersatz utopias of the late twentieth century is, in other words, merely a synthetic echo of a far more vital past.

— Robert Rubsam, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of echo

Browse Nearby Words

waning

wannabe

wannabes

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“Wannabe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wannabe. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of wannabe

noun

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