as in optimistic
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as in optimist
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Recent Examples of Pollyanna
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 24 Jan. 2025
But isn’t the cynical explanation also the Pollyanna one?
—Maya Singer, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2025
Sunshine Cleaning gave Adams’s Pollyanna era a slight edge.
—Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2024
The film also features the artist Pollyanna Johnson and Samantha McCoach, the founder of the brand Le Kilt.
—Joelle Diderich, WWD, 3 Dec. 2024
The politics of Pollyanna, brought to you by the things-have-never-been-better crowd.
—Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2024
Pope and Sarah go into catacombs beneath an old church in search of the treasure, but are forced to hide among the rats when Lightner (Rigo Sanchez) and his boss Dalia (Pollyanna McIntosh) show up and grab a mysterious scroll that is most likely a map.
—Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Oct. 2024
Informed hope is not a Pollyanna attitude, but balancing the realities of the situation with the positive things people are doing.
—Natalie Eilbert, Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024
Opinion: As more workers exit downtown, Louisville Mayor Greenberg needs to deal with realty and chuck his Pollyanna perspective, our Joe Gerth says in his latest column.
—Ray Padilla, The Courier-Journal, 11 Feb. 2024
Noun
The documentary significantly adds to the origin story, tracing Reubens’ early days and infatuation with TV kids’ shows and Disney movies — Pollyanna was a favorite — and fleshing out the family’s move to Florida.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 24 Jan. 2025
But isn’t the cynical explanation also the Pollyanna one?
—Maya Singer, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2025
Sunshine Cleaning gave Adams’s Pollyanna era a slight edge.
—Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2024
The film also features the artist Pollyanna Johnson and Samantha McCoach, the founder of the brand Le Kilt.
—Joelle Diderich, WWD, 3 Dec. 2024
The politics of Pollyanna, brought to you by the things-have-never-been-better crowd.
—Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2024
Pope and Sarah go into catacombs beneath an old church in search of the treasure, but are forced to hide among the rats when Lightner (Rigo Sanchez) and his boss Dalia (Pollyanna McIntosh) show up and grab a mysterious scroll that is most likely a map.
—Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Oct. 2024
Informed hope is not a Pollyanna attitude, but balancing the realities of the situation with the positive things people are doing.
—Natalie Eilbert, Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024
Opinion: As more workers exit downtown, Louisville Mayor Greenberg needs to deal with realty and chuck his Pollyanna perspective, our Joe Gerth says in his latest column.
—Ray Padilla, The Courier-Journal, 11 Feb. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Pollyanna
Adjective
-
The Future of Foreign Aid: Rethink, Not Retreat Despite dramatic aid shifts being experienced around the world, Haddad remains cautiously optimistic.—
Daphne Ewing-Chow,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
-
But while many in Altadena’s entrepreneurial community remain optimistic about a recovery, multiple business owners described lengthy and difficult roads ahead.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
This will be used as a proof point by both venture capital optimists and pessimists, as industry sentiment gets increasingly bifurcated.—
Dan Primack,
Axios,
27 Feb. 2025
-
An optimist would say that the Hogs’ upcoming schedule at least offers some shot at getting back on track.—
Brendan Marks,
The Athletic,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Now, Biggio is hopeful to carve out a role wherever he is needed.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
23 Feb. 2025
-
That’s an indication both sides are hopeful a deal can be reached, and that talks are in the works.—
Dan Pompei,
The Athletic,
23 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
He’s got the twinkly eye and the sly, gregarious spiritual ease of a Micawber or a Cheeryble.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2024
-
The smallest of the Micawber brood glides away in his baby carriage, because the bailiff is dragging the hallway carpet out from under the front door.—
Josephine Livingstone,
The New Republic,
16 Sep. 2020
Noun
-
Poppy is an idealist who meets a situation and deals with it and acts on it and who is able to.—
Matt Zoller Seitz,
Vulture,
21 Jan. 2025
-
That would be ideal — and MLK was, if anything, an idealist, a dreamer.—
Clarence Page,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
And with Neptune entering your sign on March 30th, get ready to tap into your inner dreamer.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
refinery29.com,
27 Feb. 2025
-
These dreamers are still dreaming, but the alarm is going off.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The rosier perspective came from the perception that human beings, to varying degrees, could shape their own lives.—
Marjoleine Kars,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2025
-
In all, a rosy backdrop of solid economic growth and consumer spending, coupled with relatively low unemployment, may push the S&P 500 up about 12% in 2025, Wren wrote.—
Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
While Lucie is warm, vivacious, and a ray of light that shines off the page, Aiden is a grumpy, reluctant romantic who hides behind sarcastic quips.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
27 Feb. 2025
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Leo Woodall was four years old in 2001, when Renée Zellweger charmed global audiences as the titular hapless romantic of Bridget Jones’s Diary.—
Kalia Richardson,
Rolling Stone,
22 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pollyanna.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Pollyanna. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.
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