VISIONARY Synonyms: 192 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'visionary' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of visionary are chimerical , fanciful , fantastic , imaginary , and quixotic . While all these words mean "unreal or unbelievable," visionary stresses impracticality or incapability of realization. // visionary schemes

Q: How is 'chimerical' related to other words for 'visionary'?

Chimerical combines the implication of visionary and fantastic . // chimerical dreams of future progress

Q: When might 'fanciful' be a better fit than 'visionary'?

In some situations, the words fanciful and visionary are roughly equivalent. However, fanciful suggests the free play of the imagination. // a teller of fanciful stories

Q: When can 'fantastic' be used instead of 'visionary'?

The meanings of fantastic and visionary largely overlap; however, fantastic implies incredibility or strangeness beyond belief. // a fantastic world inhabited by monsters

Q: When is 'imaginary' a more appropriate choice than 'visionary'?

Although the words imaginary and visionary have much in common, imaginary applies to something which is fictitious and purely the product of one's imagination. // an imaginary desert isle

Q: When could 'quixotic' be used to replace 'visionary'?

While in some cases nearly identical to visionary , quixotic implies a devotion to romantic or chivalrous ideals unrestrained by ordinary prudence and common sense. // a quixotic crusade

visionary 1 of 2

adjective

ˈvi-zhə-ˌner-ē

Definition of visionary next

as in romantic

having or marked by a tendency to be guided more by ideals than by reality a visionary plan for a manned flight to Mars even though there are pressing problems right here on earth

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in mythic

not real and existing only in the imagination one of several Christian saints who claimed to have had visionary experiences of hell

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in cautious

having or showing awareness of and preparation for the future in a visionary move, the developer bought large tracts of the waterfront just before property values skyrocketed

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

visionary

2 of 2

noun

as in diviner

one who predicts future events or developments according to Greek myth, Cassandra was a visionary who was endowed with the gift of inerrant prophecy but fated to never be believed

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as in dreamer

one whose conduct is guided more by the image of perfection than by the real world 19th-century visionaries who founded short-lived communities in which everyone was supposed to live in perfect peace and harmony

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective visionary contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of visionary are chimerical, fanciful, fantastic, imaginary, and quixotic. While all these words mean "unreal or unbelievable," visionary stresses impracticality or incapability of realization.

visionary schemes

How is chimerical related to other words for visionary?

Chimerical combines the implication of visionary and fantastic.

chimerical dreams of future progress

When might fanciful be a better fit than visionary?

In some situations, the words fanciful and visionary are roughly equivalent. However, fanciful suggests the free play of the imagination.

a teller of fanciful stories

When can fantastic be used instead of visionary?

The meanings of fantastic and visionary largely overlap; however, fantastic implies incredibility or strangeness beyond belief.

a fantastic world inhabited by monsters

When is imaginary a more appropriate choice than visionary?

Although the words imaginary and visionary have much in common, imaginary applies to something which is fictitious and purely the product of one's imagination.

an imaginary desert isle

When could quixotic be used to replace visionary?

While in some cases nearly identical to visionary, quixotic implies a devotion to romantic or chivalrous ideals unrestrained by ordinary prudence and common sense.

a quixotic crusade

Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of visionary

Adjective

Through innovation, visionary leadership, and bold development projects, the continent demonstrated its resilience and ambition. —

Stephanie Busari and Ifeanyi Abraham, Essence, 23 Jan. 2025 Most of these genuflecting tech titans had been visionary engineers with iconoclastic styles themselves but benefit from little experience in diplomacy. —

Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Steven Tian, TIME, 17 Jan. 2025

Noun

Breaking new ground in the ever-evolving business world, a dynamic group of visionaries is charting the course for the future. —

Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 28 Jan. 2025 Chris and Paul are true visionaries and since our collaboration began in 2016, have brought some of the most creative productions to our pipeline. —

Michael Schneider, Variety, 27 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for visionary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for visionary

Adjective

But anybody who's ever been in a relationship or been torn between potential significant others can relate to the romantic travails of British singleton Bridget Jones.

— Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2025
Less than two years after making Memory, in which Jessica Chastain falls for a man with galloping dementia, Mexican director Michel Franco has once again set her on a romantic obstacle course in which nothing, including her own moral compass, runs smoothly.

— Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 15 Feb. 2025