1
as in theoretical
dealing with or expressing a quality or idea
honesty is an ideal entity that has more admirers than practitioners
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mythic
not real and existing only in the imagination
depicts an ideal society in which conflict and privation are unknown
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in perfect
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in idea
someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation
she's our ideal of the concerned, caring physician
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in classic
the most perfect type or example
the Taj Mahal in India is generally regarded as the ideal of Mogul architectural beauty
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3
as in purpose
something that one hopes or intends to accomplish
his ideal is to make enough money so that he can retire at 50
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ideal
Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 15 Sep. 2025
Throughout the South, the shoulder seasons of spring and fall are the ideal time to sow cilantro.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2025
Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
This makes broiling ideal for finishing dishes with a golden crust or crisp exterior.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ideal
Adjective
Male mosquitoes feed on nectar, mate and die off quickly, one expert told USA TODAY, but female mosquitoes — the ones that bite — can live upwards of four weeks when temperatures are ideal.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 15 Sep. 2025
Throughout the South, the shoulder seasons of spring and fall are the ideal time to sow cilantro.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
Yet, Justin's recent run-ins with the paparazzi had some questioning how his public behavior aligns with the ideals he's laid out.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
This makes broiling ideal for finishing dishes with a golden crust or crisp exterior.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ideal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ideal
Adjective
-
That volume of data is impractical to fit theoretical models to deliver large-scale, accurate predictions.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The material enhances performance The team elucidated the material’s mechanism through a series of experimental analyses, including solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) spectroscopy, electron spin resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, and theoretical calculations.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The reigning Olympic and world champion Lyles hasn’t been perfect in 2025, either.—
Cory Mull,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Adidas Gender Inclusive Samba OG Sneakers The Adidas Samba sneakers are one of the most popular styles from the brand and a perfect versatile shoe for fall.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
As a public institution, UVU upholds First Amendment rights and fosters an environment where ideas – popular or controversial – can be exchanged freely, energetically, and civilly.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Some ideas came from experience.—
Sophie Carson,
jsonline.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Oscilloscope’s roots in New York’s music and film scenes run deep and that quirky green logo has been the opening act for so many of our favorite indie classics of the past decade and a half or so.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
16 Sep. 2025
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Over the decades, the Sundance Film festival morphed from a classics and good-for-you granola film showcase to a vital hub in indie distribution, serving as a gatekeeper and exhibition platform for filmmakers and a farm system for emerging talent heading for Hollywood.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Someday, yes, but not conventionally now (there are efforts underway to devise specialized LLMs that can achieve those ends, built for that vaunted purpose).—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Since late last year, China has ramped up its restrictions on exports of rare earths, even demanding proof that they will not be used for military purposes.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Nowadays, these routes and addresses can sometimes call to my mind the Camino Real—the old Spanish road lost and buried but commuted upon daily—or that mythic expanse of the Mediterranean where Odysseus lost his way and people live and work to this day.—
Manuel Muñoz,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
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For baseball aficionados, the name Sandy Koufax is almost mythical.—
Steve Futterman,
NPR,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
No one expects their leaders to be flawless.—
Sean WillChene,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The perfectly still water creates a flawless mirror image of the stalactites above, tricking your eyes into seeing a vast, bottomless lake.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Built to last, the 2020 model features a new roof design that boasts up to 90 pounds per square foot of snow load.—
Gabriela Izquierdo,
Southern Living,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The iPhone 17 lineup is headlined by the addition of the iPhone 17 Air, which takes the place of the iPhone Plus model that served as the company's second tier phone.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ideal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ideal. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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