expectant 1 of 2

adjective

ik-ˈspek-tənt How to pronounce expectant (audio)
Definition of expectantnext
1
as in eager
having or showing signs of eagerly awaiting something expectant crowds gathered at the spot where the President was scheduled to make an appearance

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pregnant
containing unborn young within the body a medication that should not be taken by expectant women without permission from their doctors

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

expectant

2 of 2

noun

as in candidate
one who seeks an office, honor, position, or award divinity students who were all expectants for a curacy

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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 expectant
Adjective
That feature allows expectant parents to include costly essentials on their registries without asking one person to cover the full price. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 22 July 2026 Like most expectant parents, Briana Faucette heard the typical warnings about sleepless nights. — Roni Robbins, AJC.com, 20 July 2026
Noun
But for the design-minded expectants, choosing items for the registry can feel like a compromise between function and aesthetics. — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 24 June 2026 In another post, the expectant mom shared some behind-the-scenes footage from her maternity shoot. — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for expectant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expectant
  1. eager
  2. pregnant
  3. candidate
  4. watchful
  5. hopeful
  6. enthusiastic
  7. applicant
  8. anticipatory
Adjective
  • Tech companies are eager for vast tracts to build data centers that can be as large as 70 football fields, and Townsite could set a precedent for similar projects on federal property with more than a dozen others in the planning stages.
    — Jessica Hill, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The shores of Clearwater Beach are packed block-to-block with resorts booked up by eager beachgoers, but the JW Marriott might just be the one to convince you to hang around a little bit longer before launching into Clearwater’s ombré coast.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of eager
Adjective
  • Francheska Velez, 21, was three months pregnant when she was shot and killed by Hasan.
    — Connor Greene, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Swank shared a video showing four glow-in-the-dark stick figures dancing, one of whom is pregnant.
    — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of pregnant
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
Adjective
  • The sanctuary gave her space to socialize and play in a setting close to her natural habitat under the watchful eyes of adoptive gorilla mothers.
    — Elodie Toto, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
  • John has been groomed by his parents—under the watchful eye of the Guardians—to eventually replace the rule-defying and frequently reckless Hal, who lost both parents.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of watchful
Noun
  • The Democratic Party’s shake-up of its calendar for early-state primaries has added to the intrigue as potential 2028 hopefuls fan out across the country to boost midterm candidates.
    — Praveena Somasundaram, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2026
  • As rumors grew about why Talarico was not seen in public during one of the tightest campaigns in the country, Paxton suggested that the Democratic hopeful had suffered a nervous breakdown of some kind.
    — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of hopeful
Adjective
  • Support from the faculty was enthusiastic, and Louise worked closely with professors in many departments to ensure the museum’s exhibitions complemented their classes.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • In that raucous public square known as Reddit, anti-Trumpers are planning protests, evidence that Trump should not expect an overwhelmingly enthusiastic welcome in the traditionally red Sunflower State.
    — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of enthusiastic
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
Adjective
  • Young is making quick decisions and firing a lot of anticipatory balls before his receivers are even out of their cuts.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Instead of requiring you to check it, the interface becomes conversational and anticipatory.
    — Antoine Sallis, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of anticipatory

Browse Nearby Words

expectancy
expectant
expectantly
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Cite this Entry

“Expectant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expectant. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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