1
as in model
someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation
she is the beau ideal of the dedicated medical professional
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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
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Recent Examples of beau ideal
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 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
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
Male dictators are Trump’s beau ideal of an admirable world leader.
—Jonathan Chait, Daily Intelligencer, 24 Jan. 2018
There was a time when the beau ideal was to drive your sports car to the track, paint numbers on it, go racing and then drive home.
—Dan Neil, WSJ, 6 July 2017
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 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
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
Male dictators are Trump’s beau ideal of an admirable world leader.
—Jonathan Chait, Daily Intelligencer, 24 Jan. 2018
There was a time when the beau ideal was to drive your sports car to the track, paint numbers on it, go racing and then drive home.
—Dan Neil, WSJ, 6 July 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beau ideal
Noun
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The Long Range All-Wheel Drive model starts at $48,990 or $39,390 after the EV tax incentive.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
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The model most likely to be adopted would provide four automatic bids to the SEC and Big Ten, two to the ACC and Big 12, one to the top team from the Group of Six, which includes the rebuilt Pac-12, and three to at-large teams.—
Jon Wilner,
Mercury News,
10 May 2025
Noun
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The breathable fabrics wick away moisture and encourage natural body temperature regulation, making this quilt the pick ideal for hot sleepers.—
Maggie Horton,
People.com,
13 May 2025
-
Aunt Lydia always believed in the ideals of Gilead, even when Gilead did not live up to those ideals.—
Mary McNamara,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2025
Noun
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It’s gone through many changes since, but the core idea of bringing a dozen great amateur bakers together under a big white tent to show off their skills in pastries, breads, cakes, and other baked goods remains reassuringly constant.—
Katie Rife,
EW.com,
11 May 2025
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What are the building blocks of a brain that can think critically, use tools, or form abstract ideas?—
Yasemin Saplakoglu,
Wired News,
11 May 2025
Noun
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The 1985 classic spent two weeks at No. 1 during its original run and remains one of five chart-toppers for the band.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
16 May 2025
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When the Wires Go Dead: Why Spain’s Train Crisis May Spark a Hydrogen Future In the middle of the day on 28 April 2025, Spain lived a modern replay of the 1951 sci-fi classic The Day the Earth Stood Still.—
Marianne Lehnis,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
Noun
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And if there’s a patron saint of broadcast’s return to glory, let’s canonize Kathy Bates.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
7 May 2025
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Pope Francis bucked that tradition when he was elected, instead choosing his name to honor St. Francis of Assisi, the 13th century cleric now celebrated in the church as the patron saint of animals and the environment.—
Christopher Watson,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The lightweight serum transforms dull, frizzy strands into glossy perfection.—
Allure Editors,
Allure,
13 May 2025
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With his signature blend of mischief and insight, Perry probes the elusive ideals of authenticity, the allure of perfection, and the ever-shifting identity of the artist.—
Lee Sharrock,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
Noun
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For example, staff shortages at the National Weather Service have resulted in reduced or halted daily weather balloon launches, changed schedules for some forecast advisories and fewer social media posts about weather conditions.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
14 May 2025
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For example, workers in call centers need to know how to use AI and balance it with human intervention.—
Tomas Gorny,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
Noun
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Fortunately, the man did not develop this even more serious manifestation of the disease.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
9 May 2025
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The musician’s spotting was part side quest, part manifestation.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
9 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Beau ideal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beau%20ideal. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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