visionary

¹vi·sion·ary

adjective \ˈvi-zhə-ˌner-ē\

Definition of VISIONARY

1

a : of the nature of a vision : illusory

b : incapable of being realized or achieved : utopian <a visionary scheme>

c : existing only in imagination : unreal

2

a : able or likely to see visions

b : disposed to reverie or imagining : dreamy

3

: of, relating to, or characterized by visions or the power of vision

4

: having or marked by foresight and imagination <a visionary leader> <a visionary invention>

— vi·sion·ar·i·ness \-ē-nəs\ noun

Examples of VISIONARY

1. She is known as a visionary leader.
2. He had a visionary experience.

First Known Use of VISIONARY

1648

Related to VISIONARY

Synonyms

idealist, quixotic, quixotical, romantic, starry, starry-eyed, utopian, idealistic

Antonyms

clear-eyed, clear-sighted

Related Words

impractical, unrealistic; crusading, messianic, zealous; dewy-eyed, moonstruck, moony, sentimental, tender-minded; hopeful, optimistic, Pollyannaish (also Pollyannish), rosy, upbeat; doctrinaire, ideological (also ideologic)

Near Antonyms

hardheaded, hard-nosed, tough-minded, unsentimental; practical, pragmatic (also pragmatical), realistic

See Synonym Discussion at imaginary

Other Occult Terms

augury, censor, invocation, lucidity, metempsychosis, mojo, numinous, preternatural, weird, wraith

Rhymes with VISIONARY

actuary, adversary, airy-fairy, ancillary, antiquary, apiary, arbitrary, aviary, axillary, bacillary, beriberi, bestiary, biliary, black raspberry, Bloody Mary, boysenberry, breviary, budgetary, calamari, calamary, candleberry, Canterbury, capillary, carpellary, cassowary, catenary, cautionary, cavitary, cemetery, centenary, certiorari, checkerberry, chinaberry, cometary, commentary, commissary, condottiere, coralberry, corollary, coronary, culinary, customary, dictionary, dietary, dignitary, dromedary, dysentery, elderberry, emissary, estuary, farkleberry, February, formulary, fragmentary, fritillary, functionary, funerary, honorary, huckleberry, intermarry, janissary, January, lamasery, lapidary, lectionary, legendary, legionary, lingonberry, literary, loganberry, luminary, mammillary, mandatary, maxillary, medullary, mercenary, miliary, military, millenary, milliary, millinery, missionary, momentary, monastery, mortuary, necessary, ordinary, ossuary, partridgeberry, pensionary, pigmentary, planetary, Pondicherry, prebendary, presbytery, pulmonary, quaternary, red mulberry, reliquary, rowanberry, salivary, salmonberry, salutary, sanctuary, sanguinary, sanitary, secondary, secretary, sedentary, seminary, silverberry, solitary, sour cherry, stationary, stationery, statuary, subcontrary, sublunary, sugarberry, sumptuary, syllabary, temporary, tertiary, thimbleberry, Tipperary, Tom and Jerry, topiary, tributary, tutelary, Typhoid Mary, unitary, urinary, vestiary, Virgin Mary, voluntary, vulnerary, Waterbury, whortleberry, winterberry

²visionary

noun

plural visionar·ies

Definition of VISIONARY

1

: one whose ideas or projects are impractical : dreamer

2

: one who sees visions : seer

3

: one having unusual foresight and imagination <a visionary in the computer industry>

Examples of VISIONARY

1. She's a visionary in her field.
2. <according to Greek myth, Cassandra was a visionary who was endowed with the gift of inerrant prophecy but fated to never be believed>

First Known Use of VISIONARY

1702

Related to VISIONARY

Synonyms

augur, diviner, forecaster, foreseer, foreteller, fortune-teller, futurist, prognosticator, prophesier, seer, soothsayer, prophet

Antonyms

hardnose, pragmatist, realist

Related Words

prophetess, sibyl, wisewoman; mystic, oracle; astrologer, crystal gazer, palmist, rhabdomancer; Cassandra, doomsayer, doomsdayer, Jeremiah

Near Antonyms

cynic, defeatist, pessimist; empiric, empiricist

Other Occult Terms

augury, censor, invocation, lucidity, metempsychosis, mojo, numinous, preternatural, weird, wraith