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noun

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positive feedback
encouraging feedback
constructive feedback
affirmative feedback
favorable feedback
welcome feedback
a positive effect
a beneficial effect
a good effect
an important effect
a favorable effect
a healthy effect
a positive attitude
an optimistic attitude
a cheerful attitude
a healthy attitude
an upbeat attitude
a hopeful attitude

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective positive contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of positive are certain, cocksure, and sure. While all these words mean "having no doubt or uncertainty," positive intensifies sureness or certainty and may imply opinionated conviction or forceful expression of it.

I'm positive that's the person I saw

When would certain be a good substitute for positive?

The meanings of certain and positive largely overlap; however, certain may apply to a basing of a conclusion or conviction on definite grounds or indubitable evidence.

police are certain about the cause of the fire

When can cocksure be used instead of positive?

While in some cases nearly identical to positive, cocksure implies presumptuous or careless positiveness.

you're always so cocksure about everything

When could sure be used to replace positive?

In some situations, the words sure and positive are roughly equivalent. However, sure usually stresses the subjective or intuitive feeling of assurance.

felt sure that I had forgotten something

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of positive
Adjective
Mia sometimes saw Diddy as her 'best friend and protector' During the second day of cross-examination, Mia's positive communications with Combs were again the subject of Combs' team's lengthy questioning. Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 3 June 2025 If that kind of freaks you out, keep this in mind: The right diet can have a positive impact on aging—and that includes the aging brain. Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 3 June 2025
Noun
Roy, of Texas, wrote Monday on X that there are positives to the legislation. Michael Wilner, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2025 If the Rockies organization is looking for positives, they might be found in Hartford, where the Double-A Yard Goats are off to an 18-13 start, a half-game out of first place in the Eastern League Northeast standings. Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for positive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for positive
Adjective
  • Bubic relied on his fastball more to get in favorable counts before mixing the rest of his pitching arsenal.
    Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2025
  • Prior to the tariff announcements, the economic backdrop was relatively favorable—inflation had been gradually easing toward the Fed’s 2% target, and unemployment was low​.
    Magdy Hassan Fayed, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Adjective
  • But negative feelings are running high across all sectors; the most confident sector in April was construction, and that was down nearly 4 points from January.
    Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
  • Battled-hardened and confident from winning the Premier League, and on the verge of a ludicrously successful transfer window.
    The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 2 June 2025
Adjective
  • While another research review published this year in Nutrients says the research for athletic benefits in women isn’t yet conclusive, there are also reasons to suspect women may benefit from creatine at least as much as men, if not more, both inside and outside the gym, Dr. Smith-Ryan says.
    Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 28 May 2025
  • Though home blood pressure monitors are effective, a healthcare provider can provide more accurate and conclusive results.
    Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 27 May 2025
Noun
  • Also, unlike the debate over eight vs. nine conference games, the play-in weekend doesn’t have a set of yeas and nays.
    Seth Emerson, New York Times, 16 May 2025
  • Lions and Vikes are known for offense — who would have believed a few yeas ago that Jared Goff vs. Sam Darnold would be a marquee duel?
    Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The win was the fifth in a row for Detroit and 20th in its last 28 games, and raised its division-leading record to 35-21, good for a .655 winning percentage.
    Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 June 2025
  • Newcomer Davante Adams, 32, and Puka Nacua, 25, will complement one another, giving the Rams their best veteran tandem at receiver since Cooper Kupp and Odell Beckham Jr. fueled the Super Bowl-winning offense.
    Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2025
Adjective
  • For years, the consensus has been that fiber is the surest way to manage the need for faster connectivity and to keep pace with technological advances and consumer expectations.
    Jennifer Sanders, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
  • Scientists aren't quite sure These magnetic fields are incredibly weak — on the order of a billion times weaker than Earth's magnetic field.
    Paul Sutter, Space.com, 5 June 2025
Adjective
  • The Fillers have gone before town officials this past spring to present a concept plan to the Cedar Lake Planning Commission, which included restoring the chapel to be in use, but no definite decisions have been made.
    Anna Ortiz, Chicago Tribune, 31 May 2025
  • More Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images While there are definite reasons for Indiana fans to be nervous, Haliburton is motivated to make sure the Pacers do not drop Game 6 at home.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • The golf pro wasn't the only competitor to have issues with his driver.
    Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 5 June 2025
  • The six-year pro, who spent the majority of his career with the Carolina Panthers, was taken into custody by the Richardson Police Department at around 2 p.m. local time.
    Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 5 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Positive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/positive. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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