as in optimism
the attitude of a person who believes that it is possible to live according to very high standards of behavior and honesty
youthful idealism romantic idealism
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Recent Examples of idealism
But what Trump has always hated isn’t conflict but sacrifice, the notion that American power should ever be constrained by a veneer of idealism or care for global opinion.
—
Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
The students with aspirations to high office knew that idealism and ambition put off a lot of people.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
As Mrie recounts, Syrian democratic idealism curdled over time into infighting and worse.
—Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
Think about Saturn’s boundary-setting, groundwork-loving nature being applied to Neptune’s ability to energize your artistic impulses and idealism.
—Maressa Brown, InStyle, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for idealism
Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
The students with aspirations to high office knew that idealism and ambition put off a lot of people.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
As Mrie recounts, Syrian democratic idealism curdled over time into infighting and worse.
—Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
Think about Saturn’s boundary-setting, groundwork-loving nature being applied to Neptune’s ability to energize your artistic impulses and idealism.
—Maressa Brown, InStyle, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for idealism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idealism
Noun
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But that cautious optimism among exiles is tempered by concern they could be cut out.—
Joshua Goodman,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
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New Romantics keys into ’80s optimism and Victorian sensibilities through bright colors and fun silhouettes.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Carl vents to Jesse and Ben, saying Kyle’s snub represents more than carelessness.—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
8 Apr. 2026
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The officials’ performance reflected carelessness in the process.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Just as the story mines humor from the collision of old-fashioned ways with a modern frankness, Paul’s score combines the appeal of jaunty golden-age sounds with a freshness that feels present day.—
Naveen Kumar,
Variety,
21 Apr. 2026
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Her love for the city is palpable, imbued with her frankness, her fun, her queerness, and her history.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The simpleness of the look really allowed the Crocs to stand out and make an impression.—
Tara Larson,
Footwear News,
14 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The childishness of his expressions infantilized a genuinely vicious regime, painting it as more peevish than petrifying.—
Fintan O’Toole,
The New York Review of Books,
9 Apr. 2026
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The actor relishes all aspects of Dahl’s childishness, and the humanity within the beast emerges in small moments.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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On the ceiling, a suede Scalamandré wallcovering delivers the sensory impact of leather—without the impracticality.—
Kathryn O’Shea-Evans,
Robb Report,
29 Mar. 2026
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Our current system denies new talent a livelihood, and the impracticality of such training, leads me to refrain from training them.—
Ted Hope,
IndieWire,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Each year brings a new theme, embraced with staggering sincerity—and just a hint of competition.—
Cameron Sperance,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Apr. 2026
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People have a sense that there is a sincerity and authenticity and genuine concern for the environment that isn't just a marketing gimmick or a brand.—
Tony Biasotti,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Gilbert’s colloquial style, once a source of great pleasure, has tipped into new territory—an ingenuousness that blends guru and disciple, mother and child.—
Jia Tolentino,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Idealism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idealism. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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