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wannabe

[won-uh-bee, waw-nuh‑] / ˈwɒn əˌbi, ˈwɔ nə‑ /




NOUN
aspirer
Synonyms


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

And Thatcher’s other film roles in 2023’s “The Boogeyman” and a bit part in the following year’s “MaXXXine” certainly don’t help Hollywood’s perception of her as a wannabe scream queen.

From Salon Aug. 17, 2026

And, in real time, we’re watching wannabe masters of the artificial-intelligence universe try to win an upper hand in controlling the new technology.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 25, 2026

Soon after, wannabe authoritarians attack the comedians, essayists, playwrights and poets.

From Salon Jul. 6, 2026

Which is without question why the prime minister was very keen in our interview to erect the highest bar he could to any wannabe successors triggering a leadership contest.

From BBC Jun. 13, 2026

“I mean. I’m just a wannabe cartoonist. What do I know.”

From "Five Feet Apart" by Rachael Lippincott

At gone 22:00 BST on Monday night, there was still a minibus full of ministerial wannabes inside Downing Street waiting for their new positions to be confirmed.

From BBC Jul. 21, 2026

He now leads New York, “and there are wannabes all over the country,” she says.

From The Wall Street Journal May 22, 2026

Others, like the Elvis impersonators roaming the streets, were wannabes, eager to tap into the mass tort gold mine.

From Slate Jan. 13, 2026

In July, Brooklyn’s Bell House welcomed a sold-out crowd to see a live reading of an episode of Bravo’s 2012 one-hit-wonder show, “Gallery Girls,” about a group of privileged, post-grad art world wannabes.

From Salon Aug. 2, 2025

All these wannabes killing themselves, running around hanging the lamest posters and FB-ing everybody with Like me requests, and Castro wins without even being on the ballot, as a write-in.

From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin




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