as in optimistic
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
as in optimist
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 Pollyanna
Rich Roll, Outside, 26 Aug. 2025
During the festival, those attending can enjoy a selection of beer, wine and cocktails from Pollyanna Brewing & Distilling, along with offerings from other local St. Charles breweries, according to the release.
—Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
Your options aren’t only ‘cynical’ or ‘naïve’ The opposite of a cynic is a Pollyanna.
—Stav Ziv, CNBC, 24 June 2025
But isn’t the cynical explanation also the Pollyanna one?
—Maya Singer, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2025
Informed hope is not a Pollyanna attitude, but balancing the realities of the situation with the positive things people are doing.
—Natalie Eilbert, Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024
Noun
Alexi’s tutu-twirling positivity should not be confused with Pollyanna, nor her quirky insights with naiveté.
—Rich Roll, Outside, 26 Aug. 2025
During the festival, those attending can enjoy a selection of beer, wine and cocktails from Pollyanna Brewing & Distilling, along with offerings from other local St. Charles breweries, according to the release.
—Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
Your options aren’t only ‘cynical’ or ‘naïve’ The opposite of a cynic is a Pollyanna.
—Stav Ziv, CNBC, 24 June 2025
But isn’t the cynical explanation also the Pollyanna one?
—Maya Singer, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2025
Informed hope is not a Pollyanna attitude, but balancing the realities of the situation with the positive things people are doing.
—Natalie Eilbert, Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Pollyanna
Adjective
-
Guillén was optimistic the honor would happen one day.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Lentsch is also optimistic that Protect Wyoming’s work can help influence public-land policy in neighboring states, and mobilize outdoorsmen beyond just the West.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Producer Kathleen Kennedy calls herself a tech optimist and a traditionalist both.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Being an optimist or a pessimist is not enough.—
Charlie Tyrell,
Variety,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But with proper funding into research, Hanlon and others are hopeful that can change.—
Jimmy Lovrien,
Twin Cities,
6 Apr. 2026
-
And the welcomes kept coming out of her, compulsive and hopeful and for no one in particular.—
Catherine Lacey,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
He’s got the twinkly eye and the sly, gregarious spiritual ease of a Micawber or a Cheeryble.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2024
-
The smallest of the Micawber brood glides away in his baby carriage, because the bailiff is dragging the hallway carpet out from under the front door.—
Josephine Livingstone,
The New Republic,
16 Sep. 2020
Noun
-
Gorton skillfully depicts the grueling decades-long struggle of Sanger (the icon, in this telling) and Dennett (the idealist) to make birth control available and legal, as well as their interpersonal competition for power and influence.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Mar. 2026
-
While Sophie has a pragmatic approach to life, she’s complemented by Benedict, a dreamy idealist.—
Kat Moon,
Time,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Anxious nation The rosy California thinking for the month contrasts with a somewhat anxious nation.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Janney likes ‘Blue Kazoo’, a compact variety of spirea that grows only 2 feet tall and has blue foliage and white bloom; and ‘Goldflame,’ a medium-sized variety that grows 3 feet tall and has yellow-green foliage and rosy red flowers.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
And who could blame these romantic dreamers for wanting to cast aside the surly bonds of Earth to visit the pale beauty of our cratered satellite?—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
30 Mar. 2026
-
As depicted in the play, the Lehman family had its high achievers and its dreamers, its capitalists and its liberals.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria was upbeat on the relationship when asked at the March 18 Next on Netflix event whether the platform was interested in adding more NFL beyond Christmas.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Wall Street viewed the purchase as an upbeat sign for the downtrodden sector, lifting shares of Palo Alto 5%.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pollyanna.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Pollyanna. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
