idealistic

adjective

ide·​al·​is·​tic (ˌ)ī-ˌdē-(ə-)ˈli-stik 

ˌī-dē-

1

: of or relating to idealists or idealism

2

a

: believing in ideals

idealistic activists

b

: not realistic or practical

a naïve and idealistic dreamer

idealistically

(ˌ)ī-ˌdē-(ə-)ˈli-sti-k(ə-)lē 

ˌī-dē-

adverb

Synonyms of idealistic

• romantic
• impractical
• idealist
• utopian

Examples of idealistic in a Sentence

idealistic pacifists who thought that tyranny could be toppled by rational argument and mutual understanding

Recent Examples on the Web

The dominos had been falling inside Paul Weiss for years, past and present staffers at the firm told the Times, a battle between lawyers interested in idealistic litigation and corporate-minded attorneys with a focus on mergers and business. — Eve Batey, Vanity Fair, 2 Aug. 2026

Renna stars as an idealistic father who volunteers to coach his kid’s team, only to find that the real challenge isn’t the 10-year-olds, but the adults surrounding them. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 28 July 2026

We’re introduced, in a kingdom under the seas ruled by merpeople, to an idealistic and sweet-hearted redheaded mermaid princess fascinated by the human world; in this version, Lara. — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 24 July 2026

Sly and the Family Stone’s more commercial ’60s work can be seen as far more utopian and idealistic than their darker ’70s albums. — Al Shipley, SPIN, 7 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for idealistic

• agonistic
• altruistic
• animistic
• aphoristic
• atheistic
• atomistic
• cabalistic
• calvinistic
• chauvinistic
• dualistic
• egoistic
• egotistic