1
as in model
someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation
she is the beau ideal of the dedicated medical professional
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in ideal
the most perfect type or example
Frank Lloyd Wright's most famous architectural creation, Falling Water, is widely regarded as the beau ideal of a building in harmony with its setting
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 beau ideal
For those who’ve forgotten, celebrity attorney Michael Avenatti was seen for a time as the Democratic beau ideal, a brawler who could get under Trump’s skin and take the fight to the president like few others could or would.
—
Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2025
The beau ideal of illiberal democracy is, of course, Viktor Orbán of Hungary, who outlined the term in a 2014 speech.
—Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 31 Jan. 2024
Fieg is its beau ideal.
—Kareem Rashed, Robb Report, 26 Feb. 2022
At Délice & Sarrasin, a charming French bistro in the West Village, vegans can bide their time in style, enticing new recruits with the beau ideal of meatless haute cuisine.
—David Kortava, The New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2021
If Hicks is the beau ideal in today’s MLB, then Miles Mikolas is a throwback to the Roosevelt administration.
—Michael Beller, SI.com, 23 May 2018
Conservatives like to imagine Reagan as the beau ideal of a president who faithfully adhered to their principles, but Trump is the president who has actually done it.
—Jonathan Chait, Daily Intelligencer, 23 Feb. 2018
If Teddy Roosevelt was the Harvard beau ideal at the turn of the last century, Mark Zuckerberg is the Harvard man to be in the new millennium.
—William Stadiem, Town & Country, 2 Aug. 2016
Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2025
The beau ideal of illiberal democracy is, of course, Viktor Orbán of Hungary, who outlined the term in a 2014 speech.
—Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 31 Jan. 2024
Fieg is its beau ideal.
—Kareem Rashed, Robb Report, 26 Feb. 2022
At Délice & Sarrasin, a charming French bistro in the West Village, vegans can bide their time in style, enticing new recruits with the beau ideal of meatless haute cuisine.
—David Kortava, The New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2021
If Hicks is the beau ideal in today’s MLB, then Miles Mikolas is a throwback to the Roosevelt administration.
—Michael Beller, SI.com, 23 May 2018
Conservatives like to imagine Reagan as the beau ideal of a president who faithfully adhered to their principles, but Trump is the president who has actually done it.
—Jonathan Chait, Daily Intelligencer, 23 Feb. 2018
If Teddy Roosevelt was the Harvard beau ideal at the turn of the last century, Mark Zuckerberg is the Harvard man to be in the new millennium.
—William Stadiem, Town & Country, 2 Aug. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beau ideal
Noun
-
Microsoft’s $50 billion investment will, among other things, help to build the data centers crucial to providing the computing power needed to run AI models.—
Hanna Ziady,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Local designers will present an expert presentation on the slow fashion movement that addresses the urgent need to move towards more sustainable models in the fashion and retail industries.—
Ut Community Press,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
At the time, Vance shocked allies with an address accusing Europe of abandoning commitments to free speech, religious liberty, and other democratic ideals.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Many slaves, Murray noted, internalized this ideal of American freedom despite their own subjugation.—
Thomas Chatterton Williams,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
To turn this idea into something practical, the team first grew a large, uniform sheet of monolayer MoS₂ on a 4-inch wafer.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Listed with Chad Carroll and Michelle Suegart of The Chad Carroll Group, Villa De Casuarina captures the kind of Miami luxury that isn’t trying too hard—expansive, private, and built around the simple idea that the best amenity might still be stepping from your backyard onto a boat.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Yeah, just stick to the classics.—
Emily Elias,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Hamburger bun croutons are the perfect finishing touch for this hearty take on a cookout classic.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Cabrini is the patron saint of immigrants and hospital workers.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Such stories became central to shaping Francis’ identity as the patron saint of animals and, later, of the natural world.—
Vanessa Corcoran,
The Conversation,
2 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
This fresh and flavorful bolognese sauce comes together in under an hour and is homemade perfection.—
Nellah Bailey McGough,
Southern Living,
16 Feb. 2026
-
And remember, moderation over perfection.—
Rachel Hosie,
SELF,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
For example, Mermentau Cove previously used Mardi Gras funds to construct a pavilion for their graveyard and add flags to veterans' graves.—
Carlie Procell,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
-
For example, media scrutiny and social media attention around an executive’s relationship with Epstein could cost a Wall Street bank a lucrative role advising on an IPO or a mega merger.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
There are about 10 million cystic-fibrosis carriers in the United States alone, so if even a fraction of them have some degree of symptoms, that amounts to many people with manifestations of the disease.—
Roxanne Khamsi,
The Atlantic,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The feeling of pieces that have been worn for years, a manifestation of the secondhand market boom, also pervaded the predictions.—
James Manso,
Footwear News,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Beau ideal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beau%20ideal. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
