enterprising

[en-ter-prahy-zing] / ˈɛn tərˌpraɪ zɪŋ /

ADJECTIVE

resourceful, energetic

Synonyms

STRONGEST

adventurous ambitious aspiring daring dashing diligent hardworking industrious intrepid

WEAK

active advancing aggressive alert audacious bold busy coming on strong craving driving eager enthusiastic go ahead go-go gumptious hard ball hungry hustling itching keen lively lusting peppy progressive pushing ready self-starting snappy spanking spark plug spirited stirring takeover up-and-coming venturesome vigorous yearning zealous zippy

Antonyms

STRONGEST

cowardly inactive lazy lethargic meek timid unadventurous

WEAK

passive unambitious unenthused unimaginative unresourceful

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.

It is symbolic of your enterprising younger self, and all of those fancy cars and five-star vacations that you passed up on, perhaps using that money as a down payment on your next property instead.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

And they must seem intelligent without actually being enterprising enough to stand out from the crowd of near-identical films.

From Salon • Mar. 29, 2026

Jordan Firstman plays Charlie, an enterprising celebrity stylist.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 24, 2025

For enterprising men, money from war, industry or trade was a passport through social frontiers—the tradesman, merchant or lucky naval captain could become a landed gentleman, as happens in Austen’s novels.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025

This enterprising fellow called on Katie early in the morning.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith

Vocabulary lists containing enterprising

"Earth (A Gift Shop)," Vocabulary from the short story

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Vocabulary Video Contest (2013) - List 1

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"The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County"

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