aspiring 1 of 2

adjective

ə-ˈspī-riŋ How to pronounce aspiring (audio)
Definition of aspiringnext
as in ambitious
having a strong desire for personal advancement an aspiring young pianist eager to win the prestigious competition

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

aspiring

2 of 2

verb

present participle of aspire
1
as in planning
to have in mind as a purpose or goal aspire to great deeds, and you have a better chance of doing good deeds

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2
as in rising
to move or extend upward a tower aspiring towards the heavens

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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 aspiring
Adjective
For aspiring cosmetologists and estheticians, choosing a school is about more than finding a path to licensure. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Sep. 2026 This year marks the first time the program will include workshops, giving aspiring writers direct access to Netflix content executives. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
Verb
Once artificial intelligence was everywhere with the 2022 introduction of ChatGPT, companies of all sizes and even aspiring entrepreneurs with no tech background suddenly had an unprecedented ability to build software quickly. — Srinivas Velamoor, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026 Why Weinstein is being sentenced a second time Weinstein was originally sentenced to 23 years in prison after a jury convicted him of assaulting Haley and raping an aspiring actress, Jessica Mann, in 2013. — Michael R. Sisak, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for aspiring
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aspiring
  1. ambitious
  2. planning
  3. rising
  4. intending
  5. ascending
  6. looking
  7. climbing
  8. aiming
Adjective
  • And over the next two decades, the games became more ambitious and elaborate, set in various time periods, even the future.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The most ambitious study of Flock's system so far is a recent one by University of South Carolina crime researchers Ian Adams and Scott Mourtgos.
    — Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of ambitious
Verb
  • Prince William and Prince Harry are both reportedly planning to honor the 30th anniversary of their mother, Princess Diana’s, death.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Democrats have warned in recent months that Trump is planning to send Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents or the National Guard to polling stations, as the president has made election security one of his key objectives in his second term.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of planning
Verb
  • The travel-retail business is expected to continue rising due to a confluence of other factors, including the 4 to 5 percent yearly increase of travelers.
    — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Super El Niño impact Inflation in India has been rising for 10 straight months, crossing the central bank's medium-term target of 4% in August, even as economic growth has been resilient so far.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of rising
Verb
  • In June 2022, a man traveled from California to Kavanaugh’s home in Maryland with a handgun, ammunition, a knife, and zip ties, intending to kill the justice.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Musk originally developed Starship for Mars, intending to launch scores of them with the red planet’s first settlers.
    — Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of intending
Verb
  • Even—perhaps especially—for a Beltway outsider, ascending the American political ladder requires a tremendous amount of glad-handing and personal magnetism, if not charm.
    — Jonathan A. Czin, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Since the creation of the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) in 2011, there have been four categories of academies, each requiring an ascending level of investment and support staff.
    — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of ascending
Verb
  • The more exaggerated interpretations, with oversized collars that swallow the chin or heavy embellishment, are the ones most at risk of looking dated once the search curve bends.
    — Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Far from throwing money away, renting is looking better by the day.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of looking
Verb
  • Testosterone replacement therapy prescriptions are climbing fast, and the men on them are no longer whispering about it.
    — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Some neighbors captured video showing people climbing from a third-floor window and fleeing the scene.
    — Abby Dodge, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of climbing
Verb
  • Since fashion businesses are aiming to streamline their operations, reduce excess inventory and improve forecasting, both leaders stress that the adoption of new technologies must lead to concrete commercial outcomes.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Spain has seen an emerging coalition of the conservatives and the far right, which are both aiming to use migration concerns against the prime minister, whose government allowed over 1 million immigrants to apply for legal status.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of aiming

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Cite this Entry

“Aspiring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aspiring. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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