as in candidates
one who seeks an office, honor, position, or award
the three mayoral hopefuls are going to debate on local TV
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 hopefuls
In a sign of the pressure for Republicans to take advantage of the opportunity, multiple hopefuls running for governor in GOP primaries called for immediate redraws.
—
Nicholas Riccardi, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
The candidates, one running for the Senate in Virginia and two congressional hopefuls from Texas and Minnesota, were fined and banned from Kalshi for five years.
—CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
Early voting in the midterm primaries starts Monday in Georgia, and voters were given a chance to see all the Republican hopefuls on one stage at the Atlanta Press Club debates Sunday.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
The candidates, one running for the Senate in Virginia and two congressional hopefuls from Texas and Minnesota, were fined and banned from Kalshi for five years.
—ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026
The Tigers are American League Central hopefuls.
—David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Her grandfather, the late, great Stu Hart, stretched many pro wrestling hopefuls while training them in the Hart family home’s basement, known as The Dungeon in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
—James Varsallone, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
Why Swalwell was leading the field of Democratic hopefuls was never clear.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2026
Bottoms is one of four main Democratic hopefuls.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Nicholas Riccardi, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
The candidates, one running for the Senate in Virginia and two congressional hopefuls from Texas and Minnesota, were fined and banned from Kalshi for five years.
—CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
Early voting in the midterm primaries starts Monday in Georgia, and voters were given a chance to see all the Republican hopefuls on one stage at the Atlanta Press Club debates Sunday.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
The candidates, one running for the Senate in Virginia and two congressional hopefuls from Texas and Minnesota, were fined and banned from Kalshi for five years.
—ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026
The Tigers are American League Central hopefuls.
—David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Her grandfather, the late, great Stu Hart, stretched many pro wrestling hopefuls while training them in the Hart family home’s basement, known as The Dungeon in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
—James Varsallone, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
Why Swalwell was leading the field of Democratic hopefuls was never clear.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2026
Bottoms is one of four main Democratic hopefuls.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hopefuls
Noun
-
The two highest-polling candidates — Hilton and Steyer — are in the mid-teens, with most of the other candidates close behind.—
Anne Bryson,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Mfume has not joined in the negative attack game, but Conway, like other failing candidates, has decided his only political pathway is simply to run a nasty and divisive campaign.—
Bobby Zirkin,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The bay colt won the Santa Anita Derby at Southern California's Santa Anita Park last month ahead of fellow Derby contenders Potente and Intrepido, who came in second and fourth, respectively.—
Alex Sundby,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
-
And when two legitimate Stanley Cup contenders meet, regardless of round, desperation tends to win out.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Leasing staff will begin reaching out to applicants at the top of a randomized ranking list in June and as late as August, according to the city’s website.—
Camryn Dadey,
Sacbee.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
On the residency front, the country is also expected to receive 80,000 residency applications in 2026—up from 28,000 in 2024—with the majority of applicants coming from Brazil, according to a news release.—
Brittany Chang,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hopefuls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hopefuls. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
