1
as in promising
having qualities which inspire hope
economists are offering a hopeful forecast for a healthy economy in the coming year
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in encouraging
pointing toward a happy outcome
in a hopeful response to the ad, several people called to say they'd seen our lost cat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in candidate
one who seeks an office, honor, position, or award
the three mayoral hopefuls are going to debate on local TV
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hopeful
Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN, 20 Feb. 2025
But the couple is hopeful after noticing the woman has already begun spoiling Eve.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025
Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 3 Feb. 2025
The trailer for Season 23 dropped on Monday, January 27, and packed in a handful of hopefuls, all three celebrity judges (and longtime host Ryan Seacrest) and plenty of emotional moments in the one-minute teaser.
—Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hopeful
Adjective
And on the computer screen in front of her, the pastor sees a hopeful sign.
—Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN, 20 Feb. 2025
But the couple is hopeful after noticing the woman has already begun spoiling Eve.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025
Noun
She was eliminated first among the cast of model hopefuls, following a photo challenge inspired by voting and political issues.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 3 Feb. 2025
The trailer for Season 23 dropped on Monday, January 27, and packed in a handful of hopefuls, all three celebrity judges (and longtime host Ryan Seacrest) and plenty of emotional moments in the one-minute teaser.
—Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hopeful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hopeful
Adjective
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Investment capital, research attention and talent all flow toward whatever seems most promising in the moment, potentially abandoning other valuable lines of inquiry.—
Matt Robison,
Newsweek,
25 Feb. 2025
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Some of that may have to do with Burberry’s promising start to the year: the company saw a boost in shares after reporting a smaller-than-expected drop in sales over the holiday period.—
Kati Chitrakorn,
CNN,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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For this sector, White House statements have been encouraging.—
Lydia DePillis,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2025
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This optimism is encouraging but is tempered by a consensus that to deliver on its transformational potential, AI must be implemented in a responsible and thoughtful manner – 97.5% of executives believe that responsible AI safeguards and guardrails for governing AI must be in place.—
Randy Bean,
Forbes,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Typically, restaurants, bars, and other establishments in the service industry are the primary candidates for this credit.—
Jessica Ledingham, J.D.,
Forbes,
18 Feb. 2025
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Chuck O’Neal Apopka Chuck O’Neal is the president of Speak Up Wekiva and was a 2016 candidate for state Senate.—
Letters to the Editor,
Orlando Sentinel,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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This spike is partly fueled by favorable exchange rates, although the popularity of country may be pushing overall spring break prices higher, with the average insured trip to Japan now costing nearly $10,000.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
26 Feb. 2025
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Cut to Trachtenberg’s Jenny in a luxurious spa bubble bath, making the most of a preposterously favorable exchange rate.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
TIME,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Hannah Minghella: Speaking of Bad Robot, Abrams former employee Minghella is a name that surfaced as a possible contender on Tuesday.—
James Hibberd,
The Hollywood Reporter,
25 Feb. 2025
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The true-life sports biopic unleashes Leo as Alice, the loud, over-the-top matriarch of a large Boston family and manager mom to Micky Ward, a championship boxing contender trained by his drug-addict pugilist half-brother Dicky.—
Brian Truitt,
USA TODAY,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The Kennedy Center is an American Jewel, and must reflect the brightest STARS on its stage from all across our Nation.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
26 Feb. 2025
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On March 1, Mercury is shining at a very bright magnitude of –1.0.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Senators raced ahead of the House as the lower chamber debated how to keep everyone from fiscal conservatives in the Freedom Caucus to moderates from swing districts happy.—
Riley Beggin,
USA TODAY,
22 Feb. 2025
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Everything that makes entrepreneurs happy costs next to nothing to attain.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes,
21 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hopeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hopeful. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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