1
as in model
someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation
she is the beau ideal of the dedicated medical professional
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2
as in ideal
the most perfect type or example
Frank Lloyd Wright's most famous architectural creation, Falling Water, is widely regarded as the beau ideal of a building in harmony with its setting
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Recent Examples of beau ideal
The beau ideal of illiberal democracy is, of course, Viktor Orbán of Hungary, who outlined the term in a 2014 speech.
—
Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 31 Jan. 2024
Fieg is its beau ideal.
—Kareem Rashed, Robb Report, 26 Feb. 2022
At Délice & Sarrasin, a charming French bistro in the West Village, vegans can bide their time in style, enticing new recruits with the beau ideal of meatless haute cuisine.
—David Kortava, The New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2021
If Teddy Roosevelt was the Harvard beau ideal at the turn of the last century, Mark Zuckerberg is the Harvard man to be in the new millennium.
—William Stadiem, Town & Country, 2 Aug. 2016
If Hicks is the beau ideal in today’s MLB, then Miles Mikolas is a throwback to the Roosevelt administration.
—Michael Beller, SI.com, 23 May 2018
Conservatives like to imagine Reagan as the beau ideal of a president who faithfully adhered to their principles, but Trump is the president who has actually done it.
—Jonathan Chait, Daily Intelligencer, 23 Feb. 2018
Male dictators are Trump’s beau ideal of an admirable world leader.
—Jonathan Chait, Daily Intelligencer, 24 Jan. 2018
There was a time when the beau ideal was to drive your sports car to the track, paint numbers on it, go racing and then drive home.
—Dan Neil, WSJ, 6 July 2017
Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 31 Jan. 2024
Fieg is its beau ideal.
—Kareem Rashed, Robb Report, 26 Feb. 2022
At Délice & Sarrasin, a charming French bistro in the West Village, vegans can bide their time in style, enticing new recruits with the beau ideal of meatless haute cuisine.
—David Kortava, The New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2021
If Teddy Roosevelt was the Harvard beau ideal at the turn of the last century, Mark Zuckerberg is the Harvard man to be in the new millennium.
—William Stadiem, Town & Country, 2 Aug. 2016
If Hicks is the beau ideal in today’s MLB, then Miles Mikolas is a throwback to the Roosevelt administration.
—Michael Beller, SI.com, 23 May 2018
Conservatives like to imagine Reagan as the beau ideal of a president who faithfully adhered to their principles, but Trump is the president who has actually done it.
—Jonathan Chait, Daily Intelligencer, 23 Feb. 2018
Male dictators are Trump’s beau ideal of an admirable world leader.
—Jonathan Chait, Daily Intelligencer, 24 Jan. 2018
There was a time when the beau ideal was to drive your sports car to the track, paint numbers on it, go racing and then drive home.
—Dan Neil, WSJ, 6 July 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beau ideal
Noun
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Strong cited the new opt-out system being considered by the UK government, which would mean copyright holders would need to opt-out from having their material used for training AI models.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
3 June 2025
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The findings are challenging the international adoption industry, which was built on the model created in South Korea.—
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
3 June 2025
Noun
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Even Johnson’s supporters may struggle to square this proposal with his progressive ideals.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
5 June 2025
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For those seeking extra space and seclusion, the Adobe House, just steps away from the main hotel, offers a quiet sanctuary ideal for families or groups.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
5 June 2025
Noun
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But, these beverages aren't always a good idea—here's what to consider before you order.—
Alice Oglethorpe,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 June 2025
-
Sarah, 28, started searching online for low-key reveal ideas.—
Jordan Greene,
People.com,
4 June 2025
Noun
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Dior Maria Grazia Chiuri leaned hard into the classics, recreating the 1949 Poulenc dress for Jennifer Lawrence and the Junon for Natalie Portman.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
27 May 2025
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The Fresh Prince of Bel Air alum shared throwback photos on Instagram May 23 from her time making the 1999 cult classic.—
Benjamin VanHoose,
People.com,
27 May 2025
Noun
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Pope Francis was a notable exception, choosing not the name of a former pope but that of St. Francis of Assisi, the 13th century cleric and patron saint of animals and the environment.—
Christopher Watson,
ABC News,
8 May 2025
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One of the co-founders of ICAN, Wright adds that Pope Francis’ role as a virtual patron saint of the movement to ban nuclear bombs should be recognized into the future with a special kind of homage.—
Kevin Holden Platt,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Instead of pursuing impossible perfection, organizations should design for resilience — systems that degrade gracefully under stress and recover quickly from failures.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
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Craft beer has achieved a state of perfection, with all sub-standard brews banished.—
Peter Rowe,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 June 2025
Noun
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For example, the family of Martin Gutierrez, whose body was found in the lake in 2018, before the media frenzy around Lady Bird Lake, believe he was drugged while on a night out.—
Sophie Clark,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 June 2025
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Mubi is, for example, a co-producer on the new Jim Jarmusch movie, Father Mother Sister Brother, which stars Cate Blanchett, Vicky Krieps, Adam Driver, Mayim Bialik, Tom Waits, Charlotte Rampling, Indya Moore, and Luka Sabbat.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
6 June 2025
Noun
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In many ways, American Science & Surplus is a physical manifestation of the maker ethos.—
Eric Bangeman – Jun 4,
ArsTechnica,
4 June 2025
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All around these memories there were beautiful pieces by Grace Wales Bonner and Willy Chavarria, living manifestations of how much André did to help promote talented people of color.—
Hilton Als,
New Yorker,
2 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Beau ideal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beau%20ideal. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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