variants
also wannabee
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
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Recent Examples of wannabe
Especially early in its career, Hum was dreadfully misclassified as just another soft-to-loud/Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana wannabe, and remained criminally under-appreciated for its heavy/stoner-friendly Midwestern shoegaze vibes long after its breakup.
—
Jonathan Cohen,
SPIN,
16 May 2026
The 27-year-old Canadian astrophysicist wannabe turned content creator turned actor first captured people’s attention on TikTok with his absurdist comedy skits.
—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2026
No Elliot Stabler wannabe brandishes fists in her face.
—
Jim Higgins,
jsonline.com,
24 Mar. 2026
All the young, single Carolyn Bessette wannabes were vying for his attention.
—
Richard Johnson,
New York Daily News,
22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wannabe
Jonathan Cohen,
SPIN,
16 May 2026
The 27-year-old Canadian astrophysicist wannabe turned content creator turned actor first captured people’s attention on TikTok with his absurdist comedy skits.
—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2026
No Elliot Stabler wannabe brandishes fists in her face.
—
Jim Higgins,
jsonline.com,
24 Mar. 2026
All the young, single Carolyn Bessette wannabes were vying for his attention.
—
Richard Johnson,
New York Daily News,
22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wannabe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wannabe
Noun
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While Fed followers see Warsh’s task forces as an ambitious campaign to reevaluate nearly every part of the Fed’s policy-setting process, the harsh language the chairman previously used to describe the Fed was largely absent from his remarks last week.
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With over 9,000 followers on Instagram, owners Jones and his wife Ana curated a strong social media presence that created a steady stream of familiar shoppers.
Noun
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Steven Spielberg's dino masterpiece — which has spawned six sequels and countless imitators — ushered in a new wave of CGI filmmaking and became an instant sensation beyond what original author Michael Crichton could ever have envisioned.
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Their clothes inspired imitators.
Noun
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There may be echoes of history on George’s first day.
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This gas absorbs that light and also pulses, with this secondary pulse serving as an echo of the first.
Cite this Entry
“Wannabe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wannabe. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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