1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

beau ideal

noun

ˌbō-ī-ˈdē(-ə)l How to pronounce beau ideal (audio)
Definition of beau idealnext
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 The beau ideal of local graft was Hall’s boss, Fate Thomas, the Davidson County sheriff. — James Verini, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026 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 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
  1. model
  2. ideal
  3. idea
  4. classic
  5. patron saint
  6. perfection
  7. example
  8. manifestation
Noun
  • The risk of rogue models cannot be held back by blasts of ego.
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The other image showed models climbing a ladder to reach shoes that hung from a tree branch.
    — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of model
Noun
  • The question now is whether Arévalo has preserved democracy as an ideal that Guatemalans believe in and, if necessary, will defend.
    — Will Freeman, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Tapping the reserves now has been far from ideal for Beijing — but seeing global oil prices skyrocket was not ideal either.
    — Aamer Madhani, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of ideal
Noun
  • Venus in your communication zone connects awkwardly with Uranus in your career sector, making a message, comment, post, or casual idea more visible than intended.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026
  • And the tariffs are a terrible idea in any event, amounting to a consumer tax and interrupting crucial trade.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of idea
Noun
  • In the 1986 cult classic, a florist tries to balance a relationship and a man-eating plant.
    — John Coffren, Baltimore Sun, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Even after donning Marie Antoinette’s silk slippers in Sofia Coppola’s 2006 cult classic, Kirsten Dunst is still not immune to the pull of Versailles.
    — Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of classic
Noun
  • The long history of psychedelics and religion is filled with scientists, anthropologists, mystics, shamans, outlaws, and prophets, but these two men are, more than any others, the patron saints of our current psychedelic revival.
    — Claire Hoffman, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026
  • This year marks the 100th edition of the Feast of San Gennaro, which celebrates the patron saint of Naples and has been hosted on Mulberry Street since Italian immigrants began the tradition.
    — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of patron saint
Noun
  • The 60-seat restaurant is known for its cooked-to-perfection aged steaks, seafood towers, classic cocktails and extensive wine list.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Could Kleist’s conjecture provide a key to their seeming vacancy, their resignation, their helplessness, suggesting that in their benighted condition lies spiritual perfection?
    — Matthew McLean, Artforum, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of perfection
Noun
  • The Sox need only look in the opposite dugout for an example.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The Gates Foundation spokesperson said a goal of the commitment is to help see accelerated learning and to help students catch up, one example being using the tool to give students more repetition and practice.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of example
Noun
  • The 1905 law explicitly mentions religious ceremonies, processions and other outdoor manifestations as subject to the ordinary rules governing public order.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Beale, his hands on his hips, turned to face Sigcho-Lopez in the latest manifestation of the bad blood underpinning the council’s deep philosophical divisions.
    — Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of manifestation

Browse Nearby Words

beaucoup
beau ideal
beau ideals
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Beau ideal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beau%20ideal. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 25
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of the words cracker fly and sale arranged in a triangle with the word fire in the middle
Triple Play Quiz Find the word that pairs with each of the three g...
See All