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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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
Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 7 Jan. 2025
Hu was an idealist, an honest, sincere, and candid man, as described by many who knew him and worked with him.
—Foreign Affairs, 1 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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
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
Hu was an idealist, an honest, sincere, and candid man, as described by many who knew him and worked with him.
—Foreign Affairs, 1 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for idealist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idealist
Adjective
-
Although there are some romantic storylines in the show, Hudson doesn’t see it so much as a return to rom-coms as a family comedy.—
Kirsten Chuba,
The Hollywood Reporter,
27 Feb. 2025
-
For a particularly unique experience, the One Dalton Signature Facial makes use of innovative Icelandic biotechnology to cleanse and strengthen each participant’s skin, while the Dalton Duo couples’ massage is ideal for any visitors on a romantic getaway.—
Jared Ranahan,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
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
Adjective
-
And in that respect, there is a chance Starmer could drag the monarchy headlong into a major backlash, particularly with idealistic young people, whose support Charles is already struggling to maintain.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
3 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
Adjective
-
These scenarios are impractical or impossible with other virtualization software.—
PCMAG,
PCMAG,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Traditional transport methods were deemed too impractical and stressful for the beavers, making aerial relocation the most viable option.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Reality check: Some outside commentators see techno as telling a dystopian story in Detroit, amid population decline and auto industry layoffs, contrasted with a free, post-Cold War utopian narrative in Europe, according to MSU English professor Julian Chambliss.—
Annalise Frank,
Axios,
27 Feb. 2025
-
Already detectable here is the same mix of utopian politics and pragmatic can-do that would shape the emerging ethos of 2 Tone.—
Ian Penman,
Harper's Magazine,
19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The security of Supreme Court justices has become an increasingly worrisome issue as the court’s rulings have inflamed partisan and ideological tensions.—
Glenn Thrush,
New York Times,
4 Mar. 2025
-
This is the effect of ever-increasing government red tape, regulations, and ideological policies—devoid of considering the standards of living of Australians.—
Shivaune Field,
Forbes,
3 Mar. 2025
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
Cite this Entry
“Idealist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idealist. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share