AMBITION Synonyms: 100 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'ambition' different from other nouns like it?

The words aspiration and pretension are common synonyms of ambition . While all three words mean "strong desire for advancement," ambition applies to the desire for personal advancement or preferment and may suggest equally a praiseworthy or an inordinate desire. // driven by ambition

Q: When would 'aspiration' be a good substitute for 'ambition'?

Although the words aspiration and ambition have much in common, aspiration implies a striving after something higher than oneself. // an aspiration to become president someday

Q: In what contexts can 'pretension' take the place of 'ambition'?

In some situations, the words pretension and ambition are roughly equivalent. However, pretension suggests ardent desire for recognition of accomplishment often without actual possession of the necessary ability and therefore may imply presumption. // has literary pretensions

ambition

noun

am-ˈbi-shən

Definition of ambition

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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Synonym Chooser

How is the word ambition different from other nouns like it?

The words aspiration and pretension are common synonyms of ambition. While all three words mean "strong desire for advancement," ambition applies to the desire for personal advancement or preferment and may suggest equally a praiseworthy or an inordinate desire.

driven by ambition

When would aspiration be a good substitute for ambition?

Although the words aspiration and ambition have much in common, aspiration implies a striving after something higher than oneself.

an aspiration to become president someday

In what contexts can pretension take the place of ambition?

In some situations, the words pretension and ambition are roughly equivalent. However, pretension suggests ardent desire for recognition of accomplishment often without actual possession of the necessary ability and therefore may imply presumption.

has literary pretensions

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 ambition SpaceX has enormous business ambitions, including data centers in space and perfecting its rocket launch capabilities. — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 30 June 2026 Over a half-century ago, the robotic figures of Pirates were a symbol of Disneyland’s technological ambitions, dazzling audiences with characterized but lifelike movements. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026 Sony Music Indonesia and Sun Eater Group have unveiled Lunar, a joint-venture record label aimed at developing and distributing Indonesian artists with global ambitions. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 30 June 2026 Abu-Ghazaleh, who left ScaleAI last year to found 1001, said his ambition is to develop AI products for the Gulf’s critical infrastructure companies and then sell them to international customers. — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for ambition

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambition

Noun

TechCrunch said that Anthropic did not have anything to add regarding its own custom chip aspirations.

— Jim Cramer, CNBC, 5 July 2026
The cemetery’s new board of directors has aspirations to turn the graveyard — the final resting place of the famous and not so famous — from decaying and overgrown to a future urban green space that would attract visitors.

— Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026

Definition of aspiration

Noun

Since, the Eagles Autism Foundation has raised more than $56 million because of initiatives like the annual Eagles Autism Challenge.

— Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Women build communities, launch initiatives, and create coalitions on shoestring budgets while the institutional resources that would let those efforts scale remain largely inaccessible.

— Lisa Curtis, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Definition of initiative

Noun

Balogun matched Landon Donovan in 2010 for the second-most goals by an American in a World Cup, behind only Bert Patenaude's four in the initial tournament in 1930.

— CBS News, CBS News, 2 July 2026
Controversial red card looms large The story of the game to that point was Folarin Balogun, who scored a goal in the 45th minute and then was given a controversial red card in the second half.

— Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026

Definition of goal

Noun

But as far as their defensive commitment goes, and their sheer determination to see the game plan through, Paraguay deserve at least a little credit for almost shutting an incredible team down.

— Stuart James, New York Times, 5 July 2026
For 250 years, Americans have overcome every challenge with grit, resilience, and determination.

— Ted Johnson, Deadline, 4 July 2026

Definition of determination

Noun

Blanche has previously defended the DOJ's actions in response to the transparency law.

— Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Other signs of scam communications include requesting money or sensitive information, threatening legal action or arrest or pressuring the victim to take immediate action, a Microsoft spokesperson told the Herald.

— Ella Moore July 2, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026

Definition of action

Noun

There were other reminders as well, some less subtle than others, of the true purpose of Congress.

— Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 3 July 2026
However, StyleCaster may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

— Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 2 July 2026

Definition of purpose

Noun

Teams Like Norway Are Trying Re-Create Home Conditions Of course, good nutrition isn’t the only motivation behind what Norway and other teams may be doing.

— Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
For years, Governor Ron DeSantis has fought the College Board, the group that administers the AP test, over how its standardized tests portray many things, including race and gender but also the motivations of the Founding Fathers.

— Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026

Definition of motivation

Noun

Both the primary and extension drive use the standard 1/4-inch hex specification, which, according to the creators, will cover over 95% of random everyday tasks – from bicycle maintenance to small home repairs and furniture assembly.

— Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 6 July 2026
Dutch Bros, which calls its baristas broistas, is operated mostly as a drive-thru only coffee shop.

— Saleen Martin, USA Today, 6 July 2026

Definition of drive

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ambit

ambition

ambitionless

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“Ambition.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambition. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of ambition

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