ideal

1 dealing with or expressing a quality or idea honesty is an ideal entity that has more admirers than practitioners Synonyms of ideal conceptual, abstract, ideational, metaphysical, notional, theoretical (also theoretic)Words Related to ideal conjectural, hypothetical, speculative; cosmic (also cosmical), intellectual, mental, spiritual; ethereal, immaterial, incorporeal, insubstantial, nonmaterial, nonphysical, unsubstantial; impalpable, imperceptible, insensible, intangible, invisible; impractical, romantic, transcendent, transcendental, unreal, utopian, visionaryNear Antonyms of ideal material, physical; appreciable, detectable, discernible (also discernable), noticeable, observable, palpable, perceptible, sensible, substantial, tangible, visible; defined, definite, distinct; actual, factual, realAntonyms of ideal concrete, nonabstract

2 not real and existing only in the imagination depicts an ideal society in which conflict and privation are unknown Synonyms of ideal chimerical (also chimeric), fabulous, fanciful, fantasied, fantastic (also fantastical), fictional, fictitious, imaginary, imaginal, imagined, invented, made-up, make-believe, mythical (or mythic), notional, phantasmal, phantasmic, phantom, pretend, unreal, visonaryWords Related to ideal fabled, legendary, romantic; abstract, hypothetical, theoretical (also theoretic); unbelievable, unconvincing, unlikely; conceived, envisaged, envisioned, pictured, visualized; daydreamlike, deceptive, delusional, delusive, hallucinatory, illusory, phantasmagoric (or phantasmagorical); concocted, fabricated, feigned, fictive; inexistent, nonexistentNear Antonyms of ideal authentic, genuine, true; factual, verifiable, verified; believable, convincing, realistic; corporeal, material, physical, solid, substantial; palpable, tangibleAntonyms of ideal actual, existent, existing, real

3 being entirely without fault or flaw for years she's been searching for a man who would make an ideal husband, and she's still looking Synonyms of ideal absolute, faultless, flawless, perfect, immaculate, impeccable, indefectible, irreproachable, letter-perfect, picture-book, picture-perfect, seamless, unblemishedWords Related to ideal consummate, expert, masterly; classic, dandy, excellent, fabulous, fine, first-class, first-rate, grand, great, marvelous (or marvellous), prime, superb, superior, superlative, terrific, top, top-notch, unsurpassed; completed, finished, perfected, polished; complete, entire, intact, whole; mint, unbruised, undamaged, unimpaired, uninjured, unmarred, unspoiled; exceptional, fancy, high-grade, special; airtight, bulletproof; accurate, correct, exact, precise; inerrant, infallible, unerring, unfailingNear Antonyms of ideal deficient, inadequate, incomplete, insufficient, wanting; unfinished, unpolished; fallible; blemished, blighted, broken, damaged, defaced, disfigured, impaired, injured, malformed, marred, misshapen, spoiled, vitiated; atrocious, execrable, wretched; imprecise, inaccurate, incorrect, inexact, wrongAntonyms of ideal amiss, bad, censurable, defective, faulty, flawed, imperfect, reproachable

1 someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation she's our ideal of the concerned, caring physician Synonyms of ideal beau ideal, classic, eidolon, exemplar, idea, model, nonesuch, nonpareil, paragon, patron saint Words Related to ideal role model; embodiment, epitome, incarnation, manifestation, personification, phantom, pink; archetype, example, mirror, paradigm, pattern; guideline, principle, rule; gauge (also gage), standard, touchstone; essence, quintessence; acme, apex, apotheosis, culmination, peak, pinnacle, summit, zenith

2 the most perfect type or example the Taj Mahal in India is generally regarded as the ideal of Mogul architectural beauty Synonyms of ideal acme, apotheosis, beau ideal, byword, classic, epitome, exemplar, quintessence, perfectionWords Related to ideal archetype, model, prototype; paradigm, standard; nonpareil, paragon; abstract, avatar, embodier, embodiment, incarnation, incorporation, manifestation, personification; height, last word, meridian, ultimate, zenith; benchmark, criterion, touchstone, yardstick

3 something that one hopes or intends to accomplish his ideal is to make enough money so that he can retire at 50 Synonyms of ideal aim, ambition, aspiration, bourne (also bourn), design, dream, end, idea, goal, intent, intention, mark, meaning, object, objective, plan, point, pretension, purpose, target, thingWords Related to ideal grail, holy grail; plot, project, scheme; desire, hope, mind, wish; nirvana; destination, terminusNear Antonyms of ideal means, method, way