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Learning new words is one of the fastest ways to level up your English. In this blog, we will learn about 9+ synonyms of ambitious with usage, examples & quizzes to help you sound smarter and more confident. Ambitious is all about chasing big goals, but sometimes using the right synonym makes your sentence pop. We will cover words that fit different moods and situations. Plus, we’ve added unique examples, common mistakes, and a quick quiz so you can practice while having fun. Let’s start upgrade your vocab game!
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What Does “Ambitious” Mean?
Ambitious is a word for people who want more than just the bare minimum. It describes someone who has big dreams and works hard to reach them. An ambitious person is not happy with sitting still because they want to level up, grow, and achieve something special. For example, if life is a video game, ambitious people are always trying to unlock the next level. They set goals, chase them, and rarely settle for “meh.”
9+ Synonyms of Ambitious & Uses
Here are the most powerful words you can use instead of ambitious. Each one comes with a meaning and a real-life example, so you know exactly when to drop it.
Driven
Meaning: Very motivated and focused on goals.
Example: She is driven to become a doctor, no matter how hard the exams get.
Determined
Meaning: Not giving up until the goal is done.
Example: He stayed determined and finished his project even after failing twice.
Aspiring
Meaning: Hoping or trying to be something great.
Example: I am an aspiring writer, so I practice writing every day.
Motivated
Meaning: Having strong reasons to work hard.
Example: He felt motivated after watching a TED Talk about success.
Goal-Oriented
Meaning: Always focused on reaching goals.
Example: A goal-oriented student makes a study plan and sticks to it.
Enterprising
Meaning: Ready to take new chances and try big things.
Example: The enterprising teen started a small online business during summer break.
Zealous
Meaning: Very passionate and excited about achieving something.
Example: She is zealous about climate action and speaks about it at every event.
Eager
Meaning: Excited and ready to do something.
Example: He was eager to join the school football team.
Hungry
Meaning: Wanting success very badly (not about food this time!).
Example: The player was hungry for victory and gave his best shot.
Hard-Working
Meaning: Putting in serious effort and not being lazy.
Example: She is hard-working and always finishes her assignments on time.
Passionate
Meaning: Feeling very strongly about something you want to do.
Example: He is passionate about coding and spends hours learning new languages.
Ambitious-Minded
Meaning: Always thinking about big goals and success.
Example: Her ambitious-minded attitude makes her try new challenges fearlessly.
Up-and-Coming
Meaning: Growing and likely to be successful soon.
Example: The up-and-coming artist just released her first hit song.
Visionary
Meaning: Having big, creative ideas about the future.
Example: The visionary leader turned a small idea into a global company.
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Example Sentences for Each Synonym
Learning new words is fun, but using them correctly is where the magic happens. Here, we show each synonym of ambitious in action with easy sentences. Reading these examples will help you remember the words, see how they fit in real life, and sound confident when you drop them in conversation or writing.
Driven
- She was driven to finish her book even while traveling.
- His driven attitude inspired the whole team to work harder.
Determined
- The determined athlete practiced daily until she broke the record.
- He looked determined and refused to leave until he got an answer.
Aspiring
- The aspiring actor took every small role just to gain experience.
- She joined a writing workshop because she is an aspiring poet.
Motivated
- The student stayed motivated after receiving kind feedback from the teacher.
- He felt motivated to study after watching a video on dream jobs.
Goal-Oriented
- The goal-oriented manager set clear deadlines for the team.
- Her goal-oriented approach helped her clear all exams on the first try.
Enterprising
- The enterprising boy started selling snacks at school events.
- She took an enterprising step and launched her own podcast.
Zealous
- He was zealous in defending his friends during the debate.
The zealous volunteer never missed a single weekend of community work.
Eager
- She was eager to open her birthday gifts.
- The eager intern asked lots of questions to learn quickly.
Hungry
- The hungry player scored two goals in the last minute.
- He stayed hungry for success and kept applying for better jobs.
Hard-Working
- The hard-working nurse stayed late to take care of all patients.
He proved he was hard-working by finishing the project ahead of time.
Passionate
- She is passionate about dancing and practices every evening.
- The passionate gamer stayed up all night to complete the level.
Ambitious-Minded
- The ambitious-minded student took extra classes to get into a top college.
- He is ambitious-minded and never wastes a single opportunity.
Up-and-Coming
- The up-and-coming singer just signed her first record deal.
- He is an up-and-coming designer making waves in the fashion industry.
Visionary
- The visionary scientist worked on ideas no one had thought of before.
- She is a visionary artist who paints futuristic cities.
Difference Between Ambitious and Its Synonyms
Ambitious is the main word, but each synonym has its own little twist. Knowing the difference helps you pick the perfect word for your sentence instead of sounding like a robot.
| Synonym | Difference from Ambitious |
| Driven | Focuses on nonstop action and motivation |
| Determined | About not giving up |
| Aspiring | Means “hoping to be” |
| Motivated | Can apply to small or big goals |
| Goal-Oriented | Focuses on planning and following steps |
| Enterprising | Adds creativity and risk-taking |
| Zealous | About passion and excitement |
| Eager | Shows energy and excitement |
| Hungry | Extra informal and intense |
| Hard-Working | Effort-focused |
| Passionate | Emotional love for the goal |
| Ambitious-Minded | Emphasizes mindset and future vision |
| Up-and-Coming | Someone starting to rise |
| Visionary | Someone is starting to rise |
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Common Mistakes When Using Ambitious Synonyms
Even smart learners make oopsies when swapping ambitious with its synonyms. Knowing these mistakes helps you sound natural.
- Using driven for small goals: Saying “I am driven to eat lunch” sounds extra. Save driven for big goals.
- Confusing determined with ambitious: Determined is about persistence, ambitious is about aiming high. Don’t mix them up!
- Overusing aspiring: Aspiring fits dreams, not daily tasks. “Aspiring to brush teeth” is a big no.
- Using motivated casually: Motivated is okay for small things, but ambitious usually means serious goals.
- Mixing up eager and ambitious: Eager is excitement, ambitious is long-term drive. Don’t swap them in serious contexts.
- Hungry slang in formal writing: “She is hungry for success” works in casual chats, not essays or emails.
- Hard-working vs ambitious confusion: Working hard does not mean being ambitious. You can work hard without aiming super high.
- Visionary vs ambitious mismatch: Visionary means creative, but ambitious is result-focused. Use carefully.
Quick Quiz on Ambitious Synonyms
Test your skills and see how well you know ambitious and its squad of synonyms.
1. Fill in the blank
She is very ______ to become a top scientist one day.
a) eager
b) ambitious
c) hungry
d) hard-working
2. Choose the best synonym
Which word fits here?
“He stayed ______ and never gave up, even after failing the exam.”
a) aspiring
b) determined
c) visionary
d) up-and-coming
3. True or False
“Hungry” (slang) can be used in formal essays to replace ambitious.
- True
- False
4. Match the synonym to the correct meaning
| Synonym | Meaning Options |
| Driven | a) Passionate and excitedb) Focused on planning and achieving goalsc) Very motivated and focused |
| Zealous | a) Passionate and excitedb) Focused on planning and achieving goalsc) Very motivated and focused |
| Goal-Oriented | a) Passionate and excitedb) Focused on planning and achieving goalsc) Very motivated and focused |
5. Multiple Choice
Which word would you use for someone who has big creative ideas about the future?
a) enterprising
b) visionary
c) hard-working
d) eager
Answers
- b) ambitious
- b) determined
- False
- Driven: c), Zealous: a), Goal-Oriented: b)
- b) visionary
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FAQs
Ans: Some common synonyms of ambitious are driven, determined, aspiring, motivated, goal-oriented, enterprising, zealous, eager, hungry (slang), hard-working, passionate, ambitious-minded, up-and-coming, and visionary. Each word has a slightly different shade of meaning, so choose based on the situation.
Ans: “She is ambitious to become a doctor and works hard every day to achieve her dream.” Here, ambitious shows that she has big goals and is actively trying to reach them.
Ans: Ambitious is used to describe someone who wants success, big goals, or achievement. It can be applied to people, projects, or even ideas that aim high or strive for excellence.
Related Reads
This was all about synonyms of ambitious, with meanings, examples, and a fun quiz to boost your English skills. For more such helpful guides on vocabulary, grammar, and writing skills, make sure to check out the Learn English page on Leverage Edu and stay updated!
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