idealist

1 of 2

noun

ide·​al·​ist ī-ˈdē-(ə-)list 

ˈī-(ˌ)dē-

1

: one guided by ideals

especially : one that places ideals before practical considerations

a mix of idealists and realists

2

a

: an adherent of a philosophical theory of idealism

b

: an artist or author who advocates or practices idealism in art or writing

idealist

2 of 2

adjective

: idealistic

Synonyms of idealist

Noun

• dreamer

Adjective

• romantic
• idealistic
• impractical
• utopian

Examples of idealist in a Sentence

Noun

an idealist sees the best in everyone, regardless of how they behave

Adjective

an idealist attempt to make a go of a mom-and-pop hardware store on Main Street

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

While Sophie has a pragmatic approach to life, she’s complemented by Benedict, a dreamy idealist. —Kat Moon, Time, 29 Jan. 2026

Yet this gloss dismisses something that might be better understood as a guiding principle, and suggests that criticism of Israel is an idealist’s liability rather than a stance with growing support among Democratic voters. —Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2026

Adjective

Sagittarius is an idealist sign that can totally relate to this tale of enduring relationships. —Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026

The contact with and dependence on such support arguably also bolstered art’s worldliness and acted as an antidote to the petit bourgeois affinity for idealist mystification. —Diedrich Diederichsen, Artforum, 1 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1803, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Adjective

1856, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for idealist

• surrealist