EXPECTED Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

expected 1 of 2

adjective

as in scheduled

being in accordance with the prescribed, normal, or logical course of events the children did their chores, but not without the expected whining

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expected

2 of 2

verb

past tense of expect

as in anticipated

to believe in the future occurrence of (something) we expect their arrival late this afternoon

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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 expected

Adjective

Yellowstone spinoff Dutton Ranch has been a huge hit for Paramount+ and the expected Season 2 renewal came with two episodes still to stream of Season 1. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2026 The expected lockout, and MLB’s insistence on a salary cap in their CBA proposals, have also cast doubt on what the system will look like next year — whenever the season begins. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026 Sherman said the expected completion date, about 41 months away, is an achievable goal. — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026 The relationship between expected average daily rate and occupancy can be more informative than either metric considered on its own. — Kaitlyn Gomez, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026 But perhaps no one feels its expected passage in the Senate as acutely, or as personally, as Peter Mills. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 24 Sep. 2026 Black's lawyers, Susan Estrich and Aaron Cutler, earlier Tuesday blasted the committee for its expected vote, and asked the panel to postpone taking that step. — Dan Mangan, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026 The expected best relievers have not been getting the job done, and few seem on the verge of getting back on track. — Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 If the expected timeline holds, state Superintendent Lindel Fields and the current members of the state Board of Education would choose the statewide reading and math screeners before his successor and the next governor take office in January. — Nuria Martinez-Keel, Oklahoma Voice, 8 Sep. 2026

Verb

That’s thanks to two Democratic incumbents running more strongly than expected in more conservative districts, but also to candidates like Garcia, who’s running neck-and-neck against his GOP rival. — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2026 But a remarkable number of young people are expected to cast ballots for far-right parties whose messaging is overtly Jewish nationalist. — Yarden Segev, NBC news, 27 Oct. 2026 Beyond payment speed, Mastercard is also looking to incorporate blockchain and identity data to establish the same level of trust expected across other payment systems, Driver said. — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026 Xi, who removed presidential term limits in 2018, is widely expected to be confirmed as party leader for the next term in the fall of 2027. — Kanis Leung, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026 Which functions consistently escape the operating model everybody else is expected to follow? — Kelvin Cheema, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026 New research has also shown that reducing another signaling chemical, norepinephrine, in certain brain regions can decrease rats’ ability to learn from situations where expected rewards are less available. — Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026 Because the retail business is rapidly changing, action plans are expected to change. — Ted Kitterman, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026 High-rises are expected to settle as their enormous weight compresses the ground beneath them, but that settlement is expected to stop soon after construction. — Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for expected

Adjective

The bank also said that while shares are up 67% this year, the stock still has plenty more room to run ahead of its next scheduled earnings in November.

— Michael Bloom, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
With only four scheduled voting days remaining, the group is concerned the bill could die if the Senate does not act.

— Jessica Riley, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of scheduled

Verb

Traditional systems can branch, but only along routes someone anticipated and coded beforehand.

— Maria Scott, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
The architects of the Constitution anticipated that officials in different branches would compete to preserve their authority.

— Stephanie A, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of anticipated

Verb

Machado then headed to Caracas with stops along the way as thousands of people joined the caravan or awaited it.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
In Mario Carbone’s The Grand Grill, a classic steakhouse dinner of steak and prawn cocktail awaited, with a carrot cake, key lime pie, and chocolate cake triple header for dessert.

— Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of awaited

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expectations

expected

expectedly

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“Expected.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expected. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of expected

adjective

verb

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