Synonyms of ambition

ambition

noun

am-ˈbi-shən 

1

as in aspiration

eager desire for personal advancement

"Talent without ambition will not make you a star," the singer's voice coach liked to remind her

Synonyms & Similar Words

• aspiration
• determination
• motivation
• ambitiousness
• opportunism
• initiative
• energy
• greed
• competitiveness
• passion
• go-getting
• industry
• aggression
• diligence
• push
• enterprise
• hustle
• drive
• eagerness
• daring
• assertiveness
• spirit
• avarice
• go
• killer instinct
• pretentiousness
• hunger
• avidity
• ardor
• pushiness
• keenness
• overambitiousness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• indifference
• apathy
• unconcern
• inertia
• lethargy
• laziness
• indolence
• idleness
• halfheartedness
• sloth
• shiftlessness

2

as in initiative

readiness to engage in daring or difficult activity

the ambition shown by the undersea explorers of the Mariana Trench, the deepest in the world

Synonyms & Similar Words

• initiative
• action
• drive
• enterprise
• spirit
• aggressiveness
• vigor
• hustle
• grit
• energy
• go
• gumption
• pluck
• ambitiousness
• spunk
• assertiveness
• starch
• self-reliance
• killer instinct
• vitality
• pep
• hardihood
• overambitiousness
• snap

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• inertia
• passivity
• reluctance
• inactivity
• timidity
• diffidence
• hesitation
• lethargy
• laziness
• indolence
• faintheartedness

3

as in goal

something that one hopes or intends to accomplish

his ambition is to study international business, then get a job overseas

Synonyms & Similar Words

• goal
• purpose
• plan
• aim
• intention
• intent
• idea
• objective
• dream
• object
• thing
• aspiration
• meaning
• design
• target
• ideal
• point
• end
• pretension
• project
• desire
• mark
• hope
• name of the game
• bourn
• bourne
• scheme
• mind
• wish
• plot
• destination
• grail
• holy grail
• nirvana
• terminus

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• means
• way
• method

Synonym Chooser

How is the word ambition different from other nouns like it?

The words aspiration and pretension are common synonyms of ambition. While all three words mean "strong desire for advancement," ambition applies to the desire for personal advancement or preferment and may suggest equally a praiseworthy or an inordinate desire.

driven by ambition

When would aspiration be a good substitute for ambition?

Although the words aspiration and ambition have much in common, aspiration implies a striving after something higher than oneself.

an aspiration to become president someday

In what contexts can pretension take the place of ambition?

In some situations, the words pretension and ambition are roughly equivalent. However, pretension suggests ardent desire for recognition of accomplishment often without actual possession of the necessary ability and therefore may imply presumption.

has literary pretensions

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of ambition

Will friendships cloud her ambition, or will this experience give her a fresh perspective? —Gina Ragusa, EW.com, 8 Apr. 2025

Among Republicans, 28 percent opposed Trump’s Greenland ambitions and 31 percent were unsure on the question. —Laura Kelly, The Hill, 8 Apr. 2025

President Donald Trump said Monday that U.S. officials will meet directly with Iranian leaders Saturday amid tension over the country's nuclear ambitions. —Zac Anderson, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025

Disavowing any ambition to subjugate or harm humanity, Gibson’s AI merely seeks sanctuary from its corrupting influence. Safety from robots or ourselves? —Billy J. Stratton, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2025