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
Relevance
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
Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, Danny Wood and Jonathan and Jordan Knight half-rap over an irritating electronic backbeat like wannabe Beastie Boys.
—
Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
Well, that requires the typical wannabe California owner to stash away 55% of all spare cash after paying for taxes and basic needs for five consecutive years to build a nest egg equal to a 10% down payment.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 1 Dec. 2025
The onetime wannabe Broadway producer brought his particular style of late 20th century over-the-top macho taste to political events, elevating professional wrestling to the Republican National Convention and inviting the 1980s icons Sylvester Stallone and Mike Tyson to the White House.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 24 Nov. 2025
The gonzo comedy is set in the days before Lincoln’s assassination and imagines the former first lady as a alcoholic wannabe cabaret star.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wannabe
Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
Well, that requires the typical wannabe California owner to stash away 55% of all spare cash after paying for taxes and basic needs for five consecutive years to build a nest egg equal to a 10% down payment.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 1 Dec. 2025
The onetime wannabe Broadway producer brought his particular style of late 20th century over-the-top macho taste to political events, elevating professional wrestling to the Republican National Convention and inviting the 1980s icons Sylvester Stallone and Mike Tyson to the White House.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 24 Nov. 2025
The gonzo comedy is set in the days before Lincoln’s assassination and imagines the former first lady as a alcoholic wannabe cabaret star.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wannabe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wannabe
Noun
-
The pair leaned in close for a casual selfie, sharing the beach day with her followers.—
Danielle Minnetian,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The couple became fan-favorites on Love Island, and followers have become very invested in seeing their relationship succeed.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Michtom didn’t bother to patent his invention; the imitators merely spurred interest.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The popularity of products like Meta Ray-Bans has opened up a new market of imitators who are in an arms race to make their smart glasses as ethically dubious as possible, perhaps with a little help from AI or facial recognition software.—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
That quotation alludes to the many Proustian echoes in Bowen’s story set in an aristocratic Big House during the 1919-21 War of Independence.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
-
This hiring cycle became a monochrome echo of decades past.—
Jerry Brewer,
New York Times,
2 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wannabe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wannabe. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
