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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Don't just grab the first random model that pops up on Amazon, though, as some just aren't that great.—
Ryan Waniata,
Wired News,
10 May 2025
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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
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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Mark Gurman, in his Power On newsletter from April 27, had his own idea, and commented on the naming change.—
David Phelan,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
-
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
Noun
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The bar features a rotating selection of seasonal cocktails, like the Industry Negroni, a complex and boozy take on the classic featuring Fernet Branca, Campari, Green Chartreuse and orange bitters.—
Emily Bloch,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
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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Above all, there was Marvelous Marv Throneberry, the team’s poor patron saint.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
5 May 2025
-
Named for the patron saint of the internet, St. Isidore aims to become the nation’s first charter school with an explicitly religious curriculum.—
Sarah Mervosh,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
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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
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The lightweight serum transforms dull, frizzy strands into glossy perfection.—
Allure Editors,
Allure,
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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While Lindblad has offered other river cruises in the past—on the Nile, for example—the new Europe trips will be the first of their kind for the nearly 60-year-old company, CEO Natalya Leahy told Travel + Leisure.—
Paul Brady,
Travel + Leisure,
13 May 2025
Noun
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The musician’s spotting was part side quest, part manifestation.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
9 May 2025
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Fortunately, the man did not develop this even more serious manifestation of the disease.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
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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