as in inexperienced
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Recent Examples of would-be
Khomeini dismissed his would-be successor, Hossein-Ali Montazeri, and instead gave the position to Khamenei, who was elected as the new supreme leader by the Assembly of Experts following Khomeini's death.
—
Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 18 June 2025
Crime family matriarch Alex (Tracey Ullman) secretly works with MI5 to cover up the would-be scandal, and too bad for anyone who gets in their way.
—Hugh Hart, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2025
Since Israeli strikes began Friday, 28 people in the capital have been arrested and accused of spying for Israel, while on Monday, one man arrested on that charge two years ago was hanged in what appeared to be a message to any would-be collaborator.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 16 June 2025
Mortgages Since 15- and 30-year mortgages are largely tied to Treasury yields and the economy, those rates haven’t moved much — and that hasn’t helped would-be buyers.
—Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for would-be
Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 18 June 2025
Crime family matriarch Alex (Tracey Ullman) secretly works with MI5 to cover up the would-be scandal, and too bad for anyone who gets in their way.
—Hugh Hart, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2025
Since Israeli strikes began Friday, 28 people in the capital have been arrested and accused of spying for Israel, while on Monday, one man arrested on that charge two years ago was hanged in what appeared to be a message to any would-be collaborator.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 16 June 2025
Mortgages Since 15- and 30-year mortgages are largely tied to Treasury yields and the economy, those rates haven’t moved much — and that hasn’t helped would-be buyers.
—Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for would-be
Recent Examples of Synonyms for would-be
Adjective
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Over at Brooks’s, Shai comes over and teaches him how to use his new sewing machine, which is a fascinating dynamic because Shai is an agent’s assistant while Brooks is a clothing designer.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
18 June 2025
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Arrange, launched in March 2025, is ASOS' new premium line that combines directional design with a distinctively feminine aesthetic, perfect for standout summer moments.—
Brin Snelling,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
Adjective
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Better yet, take the train north to Fort Tryon Park, and study untried ones.—
Walker Mimms,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
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One of City’s greatest financial successes has been their ability to generate vast sums for largely untried young players.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
The Athletic,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Both pans come unseasoned, but there’s one major difference—the Blue Carbon pan gets a heat-treatment, which prevents corrosion and rust, while the Mineral B pan comes with a beeswax coating for rust resistance during shipping.—
Jesse Raub,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 June 2025
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Simply combine 1/2 cup unseasoned rice vinegar with 1/4 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon salt.—
Gretchen McKay,
Twin Cities,
4 June 2025
Adjective
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This is a far cry from the beginning days of their relationship in 2016, when Justin was fresh off his number one album Purpose, which would go on to be certified six times platinum and be nominated for four Grammys.—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
21 May 2025
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The beginning weeks of DOGE earlier this year were marked by chaos and confusion as the group carried out mass layoffs and spending cuts across federal agencies.—
Miranda Nazzaro,
The Hill,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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Two thirds of them were unskilled working-class men.—
Christopher R. Browning,
The New York Review of Books,
27 Mar. 2025
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That doesn't mean that those employees were unskilled.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
5 May 2025
Adjective
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Internal candidates to replace him include erstwhile World Series hero Ian Anderson, or untested rookies Hurston Waldrep, Davis Daniel, or the 20-year-old Fuentes, who last week became the youngest Braves starter since 1970.—
Dan Schlossberg,
Forbes.com,
22 June 2025
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Still, nuclear propulsion is an entirely untested technology as well.—
Stephen Clark – Jun 3,
ArsTechnica,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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The first hole sets the tone: a wide fairway conceals several large bunkers, and the green, though sloped, is tame compared to what follows.—
Tim Corlett,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
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Bugleweed spreads quickly by stolon to form a compact mat of lush foliage in green, purple, or ruby hues.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
19 June 2025
Adjective
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Not About Replacement—About Realization Some CEOs claim AI could eliminate a big chunk of all entry-level white-collar roles.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
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Earlier this month, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed that the technology can already perform the tasks equal to that of an entry-level employee.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Would-be.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/would-be. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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