: desiring, intending, professing, or having the potential to be
tips for would-be mothers and fathers
The conference, held over the Labor Day weekend, drew 1200 to 1300 writers and would-be writers to the Hawaiian island this year …—
John F. Baker
John F. BakerPossibly the most hilarious and outrageous character was Joey Tribbiani, a would-be actor who struggles to find success in his chosen profession …—The Cheat Sheet
The Cheat SheetShe's a clueless, would-be do-gooder without much self-awareness.—Maureen Ryan
Maureen RyanExamples of would-be in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Trump's second term is full of reminders of the would-be assassin who shot the Republican in Butler, Pennsylvania, one year ago, killing a supporter at the rally before a Secret Service sniper shot and killed the gunman.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 14 July 2025
Doing so requires security leaders to ask the right questions—of themselves and their would-be providers.
—Dave Merkel, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Donald Trump is escorted off the stage at a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, after being wounded by a would-be assassin on July 13, 2024.
—Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 July 2025
The thriller follows a professional criminal who, after surviving an assassination attempt, embarks on a relentless quest to identify his would-be killer and protect his family.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for would-be
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Zac Anderson, USA Today, 14 July 2025
Doing so requires security leaders to ask the right questions—of themselves and their would-be providers.
—Dave Merkel, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Donald Trump is escorted off the stage at a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, after being wounded by a would-be assassin on July 13, 2024.
—Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 July 2025
The thriller follows a professional criminal who, after surviving an assassination attempt, embarks on a relentless quest to identify his would-be killer and protect his family.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for would-be
Cite this Entry
“Would-be.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/would-be. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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