1
as in aspiration
eager desire for personal advancement
"Talent without ambition will not make you a star," the singer's voice coach liked to remind her
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2
as in initiative
readiness to engage in daring or difficult activity
the ambition shown by the undersea explorers of the Mariana Trench, the deepest in the world
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3
as in goal
something that one hopes or intends to accomplish
his ambition is to study international business, then get a job overseas
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ambition
Will friendships cloud her ambition, or will this experience give her a fresh perspective?
—
Gina Ragusa, EW.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Among Republicans, 28 percent opposed Trump’s Greenland ambitions and 31 percent were unsure on the question.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 8 Apr. 2025
President Donald Trump said Monday that U.S. officials will meet directly with Iranian leaders Saturday amid tension over the country's nuclear ambitions.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025
Disavowing any ambition to subjugate or harm humanity, Gibson’s AI merely seeks sanctuary from its corrupting influence.
Safety from robots or ourselves?
—Billy J. Stratton, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ambition
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambition
Noun
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Identify options to bridge gaps between the current reality and the aspiration.—
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Those two aspirations are difficult while at Palace and therefore a move away would suit him.—
Noun
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Posen’s tenure at Gap really begins with his new initiative, a premium line called GapStudio, which promises a luxury (or maybe at least premium) product to the standard Gap line that we’re used to.—
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The six-year initiative, ending in November 2025, aims to shed light on the possible timeframes during which Mars might have been warm and wet, covered in glaciers, and maybe even suitable for life.—
Noun
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The second of those was goal number two, another type of move that a back five is set up to defend against.—
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Be open to learning from experience, from customers and from the market itself, and adjust your goals, personality and identity as necessary.—
Noun
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Taking on Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena is undoubtedly a tough challenge, one requiring visitors to have a combination of quality, gritty determination and a little luck.—
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There are allegations on both sides and no further court determinations to decide who is telling the truth.—
Noun
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The move adds to similar actions the administration has taken against several elite universities, either demanding changes to their diversity, equity and inclusion programs, or in connection with their handling of protests against the war in Gaza.—
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Guests can also see animal care in action at Rafiki’s Planet Watch.—
Noun
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The purpose of the show was to reach across the aisle and form connections between un-like-minded people.—
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More than this perhaps, as Sara Halpern, visiting assistant professor of history at St. Olaf college, wrote to me, the attack had a broader purpose.—
Noun
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Now, both sides of the trade have sincere motivation here.—
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Doncic will have plenty of motivation heading into this matchup.—
Noun
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One of drive, skill, and physicality, and the two midfielders both possess the engine to return to their defensive positions quickly when needed.—
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Potentially more significant are subsidies paid to companies that manufacture batteries in the United States, part of a drive by the Biden administration to establish a domestic supply chain and reduce dependence on China.—
Cite this Entry
“Ambition.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambition. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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