Shangri-la

noun

ˌshaŋ-gri-ˈlä How to pronounce Shangri-la (audio)
Definition of Shangri-lanext
as in utopia
an often imaginary place or state of utter perfection and happiness a dreamer who spent much of his life roaming the world in search of his personal Shangri-la

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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 Shangri-la This salon has a roster of 50 different tea blends from which to choose (and tea sommeliers to help out any newbies)—it's Shangri-la for tea snobs. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Shangri-la
  1. utopia
  2. paradise
  3. heaven
Noun
  • There still exists in him the hope for a return to his idealistic notion of the box being a portal for dimensional advancement, where diseases could be cured, peace could be achieved, and a techno-utopia might be possible across all worlds.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
  • This settlement has resulted in a kind of MAGA utopia, a fortified Xanadu where children can play in the front yard.
    — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of utopia
Noun
  • This is a scuba diver’s paradise; Kea is surrounded by several shipwrecks, including that of the Britannic, the sister ship to the Titanic, and the paddlewheel steamboat Patris.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • In Egypt, lotus blossoms crowned temples as symbols of rebirth, while in the Islamic world, marble arabesques bloomed across mosques to evoke paradise.
    — Kieron Marchese, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of paradise
Noun
  • This world’s heavens are lit with cosmic rays, its cityscapes otherworldly — everything seems to service an unabashed romanticism.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
  • And thanks to Tucson’s extraordinarily dark heavens, the Sonoran skyscape takes center stage with Peace Among the Stars.
    — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of heaven

Browse Nearby Words

shanghais
Shangri-la
Shangri-las
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Cite this Entry

“Shangri-la.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Shangri-la. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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