idealism

noun

Definition of idealismnext
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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of idealism Where does idealism meet reality for the 2026 Miami Dolphins? — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2026 To Winterman, Guidara’s idealism makes the everyday warmth of a competent restaurant staff seem spartan. — Adam Reiner, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Sep. 2026 Pre-eminently rational and practical…his worldly wisdom effectively disguise[s] a shy and splendid idealism which is the very essence of the man. — Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2026 Much of this was done with an American mixture of political self-interest and idealism. — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for idealism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idealism
  1. optimism
  2. carelessness
  3. frankness
  4. simpleness
  5. childishness
  6. impracticality
  7. sincerity
  8. ingenuousness
Noun
  • Katie Kirby has created an unforgettable character whose humour, vulnerability, and optimism have captured the hearts of readers around the world.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Return to record highs It’s been a choppy ride to all-time highs, but the S&P 500 has nonetheless rebounded and climbed, boosted by resurgent bouts of AI optimism, robust corporate earnings and a resilient US economic backdrop.
    — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of optimism
Noun
  • But that drop in intensity quickly veered into carelessness, with the defence failing to assert its composure amid loose passes and hapless communication mix-ups.
    — Chris McKenna, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Conflicts and tragedies are almost always the result of carelessness or accidents that spiral totally out of control.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of carelessness
Noun
  • The novel, published in 1988, foreshadowed the career to come by taking on, with disarming frankness, everything from child abuse to transracial adoption.
    — Casey Cep, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Horgan, whose Catastrophe charted the ups and downs of a relationship with painful, hilarious honesty, applies the same frankness to the minor indignities of midlife.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of frankness
Noun
  • The simpleness of the look really allowed the Crocs to stand out and make an impression.
    — Tara Larson, Footwear News, 14 Nov. 2025
Definition of simpleness
Noun
  • Lonnie is a Ferrell-ian blend of narcissism and good-natured childishness, but of the wishy-washiest type.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of childishness
Noun
  • In our age of optimization, few acknowledge the impracticality of these choices (besides former SNL star Chloe Fineman on the jeans front, that is).
    — Sadie Kargman, Allure, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Any Tile Tile countertops were another super common sight in late ’90s kitchens, but their busy look and impracticality destroyed their staying power, according to Cantley.
    — Tessa Cooper, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of impracticality
Noun
  • Their sincerity and humor come from the cast’s commitment to the mundane, said Ron Oliver, writer and director of many Hallmark films.
    — Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
  • For Chowdhury, the sincerity of that belief is almost beside the point.
    — Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of sincerity
Noun
  • What was once a poignant effort to extend a state of ingenuousness is now tainted from the start.
    — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
Definition of ingenuousness

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Cite this Entry

“Idealism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idealism. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on idealism

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about idealism

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