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
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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
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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
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
James Verini,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beau ideal
Noun
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While state studies have criticized the state’s education governance model, voters have rejected at least four attempts dating back to 1928 to reform the position.
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Many of Haaland’s bags are actually Haut à Courroies (HAC), the model that the Birkin is based off, but with a slightly taller and narrower profile.
Noun
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Its influence traveled through a globally recognizable set of products and ideals, all centered on the American Dream.
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This is a comfortable pair of cuffs with a secure attachment, ideal for people with average ankle sizes.
Noun
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So, Larry took a shine to this idea very quickly, in a way that Larry rarely takes a shine to anything.
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The World's Fair, as it's also known, introduced millions of people to inventions, architecture and ideas that still influence our lives today.
Noun
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Ray-Ban Wayfarers are included in this week’s deals, an iconic classic no sunglass selection should be without.
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Eddie Murphy’s comedy classic serves a feast of romance, mistaken identities, and enough barbershop philosophy to fill a kingdom.
Noun
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Outside, another Pom, named Armand, trots across a massive video marquee, watching over Flamingo Road like a furry patron saint of indulgence.
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Edgar-Jones, who has long been known for her enviable hair—her piecey bangs and teddy bear bronde color have shown up on mood boards everywhere—previously told Vogue that her ultimate inspiration is none other than the patron saint of French Girl Beauty, Jane Birkin.
Noun
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By evening, honor progress over perfection.
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But the stock had been priced for near perfection at the height of the technology bubble.
Noun
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The Chicago suburb of Kenilworth and the Washington, DC, suburb of Chevy Chase, for example, have fewer than 5,000 households each.
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This is just one example of the many good Turkish Clinics that offer hair transplants at lower prices than those in some markets.
Noun
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Your question is a manifestation of handwringing, and so, yeah, a lot of people don’t pay attention to it, and that’s okay, and a lot of people do, and that’s better.
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Meta’s compute business is also the latest manifestation of the circular economy in the AI race, like SpaceX’s recent decision to rent out data center space to Anthropic.
Cite this Entry
“Beau ideal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beau%20ideal. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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