aspirant

noun

ˈa-sp(ə-)rənt How to pronounce aspirant (audio)
Definition of aspirantnext
as in candidate
one who seeks an office, honor, position, or award a debate between the two aspirants for the highest office

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 aspirant That neutrality could come at a cost, some experts say, should the two GOP aspirants prevail. — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026 This time around, absent Wilson or other prominent Black aspirants, those voters would be likely to vote for Johnson. — Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026 Many aspirants, like Yusuf, consider jars of skin lightening cream to be essential, along with access to exclusive gyms and going to the right hair salon. — Taran Khan, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026 Despite many aspirants and imitators, there really hasn’t been anything like it since. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for aspirant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aspirant
  1. candidate
  2. applicant
Noun
  • After all, states like Georgia and Arizona were also once solidly red until break-out candidates—backed by party spending—upended those assumptions.
    — Philip Elliott, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
  • But most of the likely Democratic candidates simply don’t agree that a genocide happened in Gaza, and reject the question’s premise.
    — David Weigel, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of candidate
Noun
  • Hiring managers increasingly emphasize applicants’ autonomy and judgment relative to specific technical expertise, the report said.
    — Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Evidence in that case showed that Asian applicants with very high test scores were often turned down.
    — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of applicant

Browse Nearby Words

asphyxiating
aspirant
aspirants
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Cite this Entry

“Aspirant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aspirant. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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