How to Use would-be in a Sentence

would-be

adjective
  • The two would-be thieves got away.
    — Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Two would-be game-tying swings, two outs just shy of the wall.
    — Alan Cole, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2025
  • And none of the rest of them leaped above a wall four times to rob would-be home runs.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2026
  • The hope is that would-be intruders think twice.
    — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Sep. 2025
  • The hope is that would-be intruders think twice.
    — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Apr. 2026
  • The would-be moral enforcers aren’t much better.
    — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 17 May 2026
  • Tomala has caught nine would-be base stealers.
    — Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
  • That’s how would-be terrorists like it.
    — Juliette Kayyem, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2026
  • The problem is that so many of his would-be voters don’t seem to care.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2024
  • But contracts for the sale fell through and would-be buyers backed out.
    — Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2026
  • But contracts for the sale fell through and would-be buyers backed out.
    — Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
  • Ford must hope his would-be supporters aren’t renters or don’t read the news.
    — Editorial, Boston Herald, 27 May 2026
  • The song will earn far more this year than its would-be sale price would indicate.
    — WIRED, 26 Sep. 2023
  • To inspire would-be entrepreneurs?
    — Elizabeth Baskin, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
  • And Wemby bricked a would-be game-winner.
    — Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 6 June 2026
  • Cruz said a neighbor of hers saw this person confront the would-be thieves.
    — Dennis Valera, CBS News, 22 June 2026
  • Griffith said police are still searching for the would-be thief.
    — Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 14 Jan. 2025
  • Right-fielder Austin Slater threw out one would-be run at home plate.
    — Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Jones shook off three would-be tacklers before taking it to the house.
    — Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 28 Sep. 2025
  • In the seventh inning, his relay throw cut down a would-be run at the plate.
    — Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2025
  • The would-be grade school victim wasn’t real, though, and Det.
    — John Annese, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2026
  • Get on the street and listen to your constituents or would-be constituents.
    — ABC News, 18 Jan. 2026
  • Mortgage rates have come back down, and that is going to help would-be home buyers.
    — Justin Lahart, WSJ, 20 Dec. 2023
  • That affects downtown workers and would-be tourists alike.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Some would-be buyers have paused their house hunting plans due to higher rates and prices.
    — Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2023
  • Lower rates are helpful for would-be buyers.
    — Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Yes, the teaser wasn’t selling this would-be blockbuster well.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2024
  • That’s keeping many would-be buyers on the sidelines.
    — Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
  • That meant would-be owners could purchase the log home shells for a fraction of the cost.
    — Amber Gaudet, Charlotte Observer, 18 May 2026
  • Keep your paltry pocket lighters sheathed, would-be saboteurs.
    — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 21 Apr. 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'would-be.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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