as in inexperienced
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Recent Examples of would-be
If successful, Deep’s small-house-sized sentinel units will let scientists and other would-be oceanic explorers live below the surface for longer periods of time and with some greater semblance of normalcy.
—
Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 5 Feb. 2025
The league attempted to have a digital system help with ball placement, considering many were upset during a would-be first down attempt for the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship.
—Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
But Georgia’s would-be autocrats appear to be undaunted.
—Anthony Borden, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2025
Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture proposed new rules that would require poultry companies to disclose more information to would-be farmers — a change that is designed to help farmers better assess the risks.
—Ames Alexander, Charlotte Observer, 26 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for would-be 
Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 5 Feb. 2025
The league attempted to have a digital system help with ball placement, considering many were upset during a would-be first down attempt for the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship.
—Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
But Georgia’s would-be autocrats appear to be undaunted.
—Anthony Borden, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2025
Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture proposed new rules that would require poultry companies to disclose more information to would-be farmers — a change that is designed to help farmers better assess the risks.
—Ames Alexander, Charlotte Observer, 26 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for would-be
Recent Examples of Synonyms for would-be
Adjective
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Melissa Hobley, Tinder’s chief marketing officer, is always learning and experimenting — matchmaking new brands with the app through unexpected collaborations that bring something fresh into the world.—
Alexandra Pastore,
WWD,
5 Feb. 2025
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Hot Springs received $2.3 million to plan four new multi-use trails.—
Amir Mahmoud,
arkansasonline.com,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Within days, he was appointed as the new, young, untried head coach (and now manager) of former club Arsenal with his work ethic, his ambitions and his non-negotiables.—
Amy Lawrence,
The Athletic,
3 Feb. 2025
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At the time, states that still practiced the death penalty struggled as their lethal drug suppliers, not wanting to be associated with executions, cut ties and corrections offices experimented with untried methods.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
26 Sep. 2024
Adjective
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While the German shepherd is politely holding back, his opponent can't wait to tuck in, to the point that his owner has to physically stop him from grabbing the unseasoned spaghetti before the contest even started.—
Jonathan Granoff,
Newsweek,
29 Jan. 2025
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Other human foods that cats can eat unseasoned and without bones are salmon, chicken, turkey, beef, organ meat, shrimp, lamb, pork and canned tuna in spring water only.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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In this case, the planetesimal that was the beginning stage of Earth didn’t drop its MVEs at the start of its development.—
Jack Knudson,
Discover Magazine,
5 Feb. 2025
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One source said that at the beginning Trump was reluctant to hold the meeting, but eventually agreed.—
Barak Ravid,
Axios,
7 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Gamers have also scrutinized Musk for his odd gameplay and game setting choices that can be indicative of an unskilled player.—
Antonio Pequeño IV,
Forbes,
16 Jan. 2025
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In addition to helping address labor shortages for both high-skill and unskilled jobs, federal authorization of state-run visa programs would also help states and regions address unique labor needs.—
Patrick Gleason,
Forbes,
29 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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This suit used the same Iowa law to argue that the poll had deliberately misled The Register’s paying subscribers. Suhr of the Center for American Rights described state consumer protection laws as a promising if largely untested vehicle for pursuing media outlets.—
New York Times,
The Mercury News,
9 Feb. 2025
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In contrast, raw water remains untested, unregulated and untreated, leaving its safety to drink in question.—
Bill Sullivan,
The Conversation,
27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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These categories are color-coded in yellow, green, blue and purple, with yellow being the easiest category and purple the hardest.—
Kristan Hawkins,
Newsweek,
7 Feb. 2025
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The app said the plane landed, but his text messages to his wife, instead of being green, were suddenly blue.—
Wendy Grossman Kantor,
People.com,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The more capable and also free Google Photos thus remains our Editors' Choice winner for entry-level photo editing apps.—
PCMAG,
PCMAG,
9 Feb. 2025
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The Dolphins flew Johnson to Miami for an interview and hired him as a quality control assistant, the lowest entry-level position in the league, before promoting him to assistant quarterbacks coach the next year.—
Brad Biggs,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near would-be
Cite this Entry
“Would-be.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/would-be. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
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