as in dream
a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality
opening our own restaurant has long been a pipe dream
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Recent Examples of pipe dream
The decades-long quest to build home robots that are both helpful and lifelike — spurred on by fictional machines like the Jetsons’ humanoid maid Rosie —- is still mostly a pipe dream.
—
Matt O’Brien, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
The rapid normalization of working from home has reconfigured how and where talent operates, offering flexibility that was once a pipe dream.
—Vikram Joshi, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
But that seems to be a bit of a pipe dream.
—Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 15 May 2026
Throughout this franchise’s existence, having a capable center on every line has been a pipe dream.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pipe dream
Matt O’Brien, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
The rapid normalization of working from home has reconfigured how and where talent operates, offering flexibility that was once a pipe dream.
—Vikram Joshi, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
But that seems to be a bit of a pipe dream.
—Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 15 May 2026
Throughout this franchise’s existence, having a capable center on every line has been a pipe dream.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pipe dream
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pipe dream
Noun
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These memories of his brief, sad human life are uneasy dreams that Lestat wakes from on his tour bus as the sun sets over the road to Toledo.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
15 June 2026
-
One concerns a romantic dream come true that becomes a bit of a nightmare.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
14 June 2026
Noun
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That's why rich girl hair colors are a calling card for those who favor an upscale aesthetic, or at least a beauty look that creates the illusion of luxury.—
Calin Van Paris,
InStyle,
17 June 2026
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Over the last 8 months, Schoening has sifted through hundreds of pages of campaign finance reports and says Marx has created the illusion of being the frontrunner.—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
Noun
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The heady scent—a mix of white florals, amber, and sandalwood—induces daydreams of tanning on a white-sand beach.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
27 May 2026
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Nina, Karen and Caroline started appearing in my daydreams, full of vigor and life lessons.—
Jennifer Acker,
PEOPLE,
8 May 2026
Noun
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From a fantasy perspective, Ronaldo’s appeal is straightforward.—
Abdul Rehman,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
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Stepping out in the French capital after dark, the singer and actor embraced a softer side of glamour, trading her signature slinkier silhouettes for a dreamlike dress that embodied couture fantasy and modern-day fairytale all at once.—
Daisy Maldonado,
InStyle,
11 June 2026
Noun
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The collection made the wait feel almost purposeful, as if absence sharpened the duo’s already exacting vision.—
Justin Fenner,
Robb Report,
17 June 2026
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Roman will pair a large field of view with crisp infrared vision to survey deep, vast swaths of sky.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pipe dream.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pipe%20dream. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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