idealist 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of idealistnext
as in romantic
having or marked by a tendency to be guided more by ideals than by reality an idealist attempt to make a go of a mom-and-pop hardware store on Main Street

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

idealist

2 of 2

noun

ī-ˈdē-(ə-)list How to pronounce idealist (audio)
as in dreamer
one whose conduct is guided more by the image of perfection than by the real world an idealist sees the best in everyone, regardless of how they behave

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 idealist
Adjective
The film’s first trailer released on Monday, featuring Adam Driver as an idealist architect up against Giancarlo Esposito as a pragmatist mayor. — Zoe G Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 May 2024 In each episode, Kaplan argues that although hubris, ambition, and hatred always lurk in the background, the knowledge of human imperfection and the limits of progress can liberate people to seek greater self-awareness and avoid idealist misadventures. — Robert D. Kaplan, Foreign Affairs, 24 Oct. 2023
Noun
The First Lady remained a champion of Baroni’s approach, but most of the President’s Ivy League advisors deemed him a sentimental idealist with an exaggerated view of the people’s potential. — Harry Boyte and Trygve Throntveit, TIME, 4 Jan. 2025 Mills, the younger cop played by Pitt, is an idealist who refers to himself as Serpico (a nod to another of the film’s clear influences, Sidney Lumet) and takes his role cleaning up the streets seriously. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 7 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for idealist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idealist
  1. romantic
  2. dreamer
  3. idealistic
  4. impractical
  5. utopian
  6. ideological
  7. quixotic
Adjective
  • After the invisible-car antics of Die Another Day, Daniel Craig's series of turns as Bond brought the franchise back to basics, beginning with 2006's romantic, suspenseful Casino Royale.
    — EW.com, EW.com, 23 Mar. 2025
  • The moment was born out of a need for Edward to have something to do in the hotel while Vivian comes looking for him, leading into to a romantic sequence.
    — Kate Hogan, People.com, 23 Mar. 2025
Definition of romantic
Noun
  • And with Neptune entering your sign on March 30th, get ready to tap into your inner dreamer.
    — Dossé-Via Trenou, refinery29.com, 27 Feb. 2025
  • These dreamers are still dreaming, but the alarm is going off.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2025
Definition of dreamer
Adjective
  • However, finding a free market that fully embodies this idealistic form of capitalism is difficult.
    — Gabrielle Boko, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
  • The idealistic progressive laws of the seventies—those mandating environmental review, safety and anti-corruption standards, historic preservation, prevailing wages, and, most important, local power over zoning—had meant to protect small communities against moneyed interests.
    — Benjamin Wallace-Wells, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
Definition of idealistic
Adjective
  • The most innovative ideas often seem strange or impractical at first.
    — Jodie Cook, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
  • European Army and the EU The nebulous idea of a European military has long floated around, but mostly dismissed as impractical and unnecessary while NATO exists in its current form.
    — Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 25 Mar. 2025
Definition of impractical
Adjective
  • And underpinning all of this is the relentless march of technology, most notably the explosion of artificial intelligence, which promises both utopian opportunities and dystopian pitfalls.
    — Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Novels about women’s communities tend toward utopian coexistence or ruthless backbiting.
    — Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of utopian
Adjective
  • At a time when libraries around the world face ideological battles and funding shortages, this film is a reminder that knowledge must be defended!
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 16 Mar. 2025
  • The most urgent divide within the Democratic Party is less ideological than tactical: if the Dems stand and fight on every front or pick their battles.
    — Dave Lawler, Axios, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of ideological
Adjective
  • Or the sudden, quixotic tariffs on Canada and Mexico.
    — Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025
  • Tarantino has a quixotic belief about what film can accomplish.
    — Paul Fitzgerald, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2025
Definition of quixotic

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Cite this Entry

“Idealist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idealist. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.

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