Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective quixotic contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of quixotic are chimerical, fanciful, fantastic, imaginary, and visionary. While all these words mean "unreal or unbelievable," quixotic implies a devotion to romantic or chivalrous ideals unrestrained by ordinary prudence and common sense.

a quixotic crusade

How does the word chimerical relate to other synonyms for quixotic?

Chimerical combines the implication of visionary and fantastic.

chimerical dreams of future progress

When can fanciful be used instead of quixotic?

The words fanciful and quixotic can be used in similar contexts, but fanciful suggests the free play of the imagination.

a teller of fanciful stories

When would fantastic be a good substitute for quixotic?

While the synonyms fantastic and quixotic are close in meaning, fantastic implies incredibility or strangeness beyond belief.

a fantastic world inhabited by monsters

When is imaginary a more appropriate choice than quixotic?

The meanings of imaginary and quixotic largely overlap; however, imaginary applies to something which is fictitious and purely the product of one's imagination.

an imaginary desert isle

When is it sensible to use visionary instead of quixotic?

While in some cases nearly identical to quixotic, visionary stresses impracticality or incapability of realization.

visionary schemes

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 quixotic Neither of those carrots will entice Sliwa to abandon his quixotic campaign. Ken Frydman, New York Daily News, 30 June 2025 Should the Trump administration actually go through with a quixotic invasion effort, the cost in blood and treasure would doubtless drive a permanent wedge within the MAGA movement. Chicago Tribune, 23 June 2025 What sets Netflix Spain apart from most of the U.S. streamer’s international operations is its ambition, based not on quixotic dreams of grandeur but on the record-breaking first decade of generating key titles which perform well on home ground but break out spectacularly abroad. John Hopewell, Variety, 16 June 2025 That’s a good question on many levels, especially since Walters (played by Charlie McCullagh) persuaded his wife, Carol (Evelyn Hoskins, in a dominant performance), and his best pal, Ron (Akron Watson), to fund and back his quixotic quest, despite its obvious risks to life and limb. Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for quixotic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quixotic
Adjective
  • The fresh take on Austen’s first novel — which follows the differing romantic journeys of sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood after their father’s death forces them to leave their family’s estate — has officially started filming in the United Kingdom.
    Ellise Shafer, Variety, 21 July 2025
  • This week American Ballet Theater is coming to Orange Country’s Segerstrom Center for the Arts July 24-27 to perform the classic romantic ballet Giselle.
    Tom Teicholz, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
Adjective
  • Agent deployment is impractical, while VDI introduces performance penalties and complexity.
    Etay Maor, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
  • Adelman, who will preside over her trial, suggested in the June 18 hearing that the current schedule was impractical.
    Daniel Bice, jsonline.com, 15 July 2025
Adjective
  • This is not an idealistic concept; there are programs in the U.S. that link food systems to human health.
    Alana Sandel, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • Mark your calendars because this summer is about to get lit — especially as responsible Saturn, idealistic Neptune, and transformational Pluto alchemize with Uranus, bringing extreme makeovers to many aspects of our lives and to the world at large.
    Lisa Stardust, refinery29.com, 4 July 2025
Adjective
  • Arcane focuses on the story between two sisters Vi (Hailee Steinfeld) and Jinx (Ella Purnell), who soon become embroiled in a conflict within their utopian society.
    Ryan Fleming, Deadline, 10 June 2025
  • People always wanted more-more-more from Sly, based on the utopian promises of his songs.
    Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 10 June 2025
Adjective
  • This, in turn, becomes logically reliant on the idealist paradigm of Consciousness as the fundamental lowest common denominator of reality.
    Carlo Tortora Brayda, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Labour leader Starmer, though, has taken a realist rather than an idealist approach to the president, putting Britain's foreign policy interests above the strong opposition to Trump in the rank and file of his own party.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Quixotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quixotic. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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