would-be

Modifies a noun

• assassin: What cover does the area provide for would-be assassins?
• thief: Several years ago a would-be thief managed to open the box.
• proliferators: Musharraf's public pardon of Khan for his activities also does little to scare would-be proliferators.
• entrepreneur: Every week hundreds of would-be entrepreneurs meet their bank managers in the hope of getting a loan to start a business.
• suitor: Today, our would-be suitors would almost certainly have met online.
• robber: These would-be robbers held him in great dread; Outside the forest, scared to show a head.

Modifying Another Word

• particularly: Paul Gamble homes in on the advantages for youngsters â particularly would-be rugby players.
• even: They are not just employees of others - or even would-be cybernetic entrepreneurs.
• so: The aforementioned retaining bar also rotates so would-be thieves can't cut through it with a hacksaw.