English-French translations for would-be

• en puissance
  Sachez, libéraux en puissance, que vous ne ferez pas faiblir notre détermination à œuvrer pour le bien commun... Know this, would-be liberals: you will not weaken our determination to contribute to the common good...
• pseudo-
• soi-disant
  Cette soi-disant solution miracle ne fonctionne pas. This would-be panacea does not in fact work.
  Le communisme sert en fait d'excuse pour exploiter les citoyens pour des raisons soi-disant sociales, comme on peut le voir en Chine aujourd'hui. Communism in fact amounts to an excuse on would-be social grounds to exploit the people, as demonstrated today by China.

Definition of would-be

• Attempting or desiring something
• Unfulfilled or frustrated in realizing an ambition
• One who aspires to something

Examples

• Would-be marines have to get through a rigorous examination
• Would-be film stars often become waitresses

Related words

• would
• Wouldham
• would like
• would you mind putting on your seat belt
• would you like to go out with me
• would not throw someone out of bed
• would have
• would you mind
• wouldn't hurt a fly