Pollyanna
noun
Pol·ly·an·na
ˌpä-lē-ˈa-nə 
: a person characterized by irrepressible optimism and a tendency to find good in everything
Pollyanna
adjective
Examples of Pollyanna in a Sentence
I'm no Pollyanna, but I do think some good will come out of this.
Recent Examples on the Web
Informed hope is not a Pollyanna attitude, but balancing the realities of the situation with the positive things people are doing.
—
Natalie Eilbert, Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024
In season nine, a bridge exploded, injuring Rick, and a minor antagonist named Anne (Pollyanna McIntosh) seized the opportunity to kidnap him for a secret military operation called the CRM, a.k.a.
—Leah Marilla Thomas, Vulture, 25 Feb. 2024
Opinion: As more workers exit downtown, Louisville Mayor Greenberg needs to deal with realty and chuck his Pollyanna perspective, our Joe Gerth says in his latest column.
—Ray Padilla, The Courier-Journal, 11 Feb. 2024
Burke was married to actress Pollyanna Rose until 2017.
—Dustin Nelson, EW.com, 15 May 2024
The series also stars Pollyanna McIntosh, Lesley-Ann Brandt, Terry O’Quinn, Matthew August Jeffers, Craig Tate, Breeda Wool and Andrew Bachelor, among others.
—Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 May 2024
In front of the library on Main Street in this northern New Hampshire town is a bronze Pollyanna statue, smiling with her arms flung wide.
—Sophie Hills, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Feb. 2024
My natural state has always been one of optimism, almost to the point of being a Pollyanna.
—Ellyn Laub, sun-sentinel.com, 30 Sep. 2021
My mother, ever a Pollyanna, favors the gau sok tile, a riot of nine bamboo stalks in ruby and jade (and indigo in some sets).
—Rudy Lee, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2023
Natalie Eilbert, Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024
In season nine, a bridge exploded, injuring Rick, and a minor antagonist named Anne (Pollyanna McIntosh) seized the opportunity to kidnap him for a secret military operation called the CRM, a.k.a.
—Leah Marilla Thomas, Vulture, 25 Feb. 2024
Opinion: As more workers exit downtown, Louisville Mayor Greenberg needs to deal with realty and chuck his Pollyanna perspective, our Joe Gerth says in his latest column.
—Ray Padilla, The Courier-Journal, 11 Feb. 2024
Burke was married to actress Pollyanna Rose until 2017.
—Dustin Nelson, EW.com, 15 May 2024
The series also stars Pollyanna McIntosh, Lesley-Ann Brandt, Terry O’Quinn, Matthew August Jeffers, Craig Tate, Breeda Wool and Andrew Bachelor, among others.
—Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 May 2024
In front of the library on Main Street in this northern New Hampshire town is a bronze Pollyanna statue, smiling with her arms flung wide.
—Sophie Hills, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Feb. 2024
My natural state has always been one of optimism, almost to the point of being a Pollyanna.
—Ellyn Laub, sun-sentinel.com, 30 Sep. 2021
My mother, ever a Pollyanna, favors the gau sok tile, a riot of nine bamboo stalks in ruby and jade (and indigo in some sets).
—Rudy Lee, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Pollyanna.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near Pollyanna
Cite this Entry
“Pollyanna.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Pollyanna. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
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