as in romantic
having or marked by a tendency to be guided more by ideals than by reality
an idealist attempt to make a go of a mom-and-pop hardware store on Main Street
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in dreamer
one whose conduct is guided more by the image of perfection than by the real world
an idealist sees the best in everyone, regardless of how they behave
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 idealist
Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
In the new release, Temple plays idealist scientist Dr. Teddy Paine opposite Chiwetel Ejiofor’s General Rex Strickland — the overseer of a secret research facility dedicated to symbiotes.
—Raven Brunner, People.com, 25 Oct. 2024
Literary Hub, 20 Mar. 2026
While Sophie has a pragmatic approach to life, she’s complemented by Benedict, a dreamy idealist.
—Kat Moon, Time, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for idealist
Adjective
Labour leader Starmer, though, has taken a realist rather than an idealist approach to the president, putting Britain's foreign policy interests above the strong opposition to Trump in the rank and file of his own party.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
In the new release, Temple plays idealist scientist Dr. Teddy Paine opposite Chiwetel Ejiofor’s General Rex Strickland — the overseer of a secret research facility dedicated to symbiotes.
—Raven Brunner, People.com, 25 Oct. 2024
Noun
Gorton skillfully depicts the grueling decades-long struggle of Sanger (the icon, in this telling) and Dennett (the idealist) to make birth control available and legal, as well as their interpersonal competition for power and influence.
—Literary Hub, 20 Mar. 2026
While Sophie has a pragmatic approach to life, she’s complemented by Benedict, a dreamy idealist.
—Kat Moon, Time, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for idealist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idealist
Adjective
-
Throw out your romantic rulebook!—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
-
One concerns a romantic dream come true that becomes a bit of a nightmare.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
Those juxtaposing character traits were oftentimes the only way to differentiate between the gentle dreamer Bette and stern, controlling Dot.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
9 Dec. 2025
-
He's always been a dreamer, even as a kid in rural Canada.—
Jonathan Vigliotti,
CBS News,
30 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Nat Kitcharit plays Mek, an idealistic young lawyer whose faith in the system is systematically dismantled after he is framed for the murder of the son of Anan (Songsit Roongnophakunsri), a powerful police chief.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
11 June 2026
-
The familiar, idealistic version of his legacy is one that has been carefully curated.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
There are better ways to eliminate smoking than impose an impractical mandate that creates a permanent class of disenfranchised adults.—
Alex Weatherall,
Boston Herald,
10 June 2026
-
Disproportionate chair or lighting size feels off—and can be impractical, too.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
For all their speed-to-market and trend obsessions, fashion companies struggle to update the systems and materials that go into their products, meaning churn reigns and improvements are consigned to that oft-uttered utopian destination known as ‘when there’s time’.—
Brooke Roberts-Islam,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
-
None of this is to suggest Brisbane is a utopian fantasy of domestic bliss.—
Alli Forde,
Travel + Leisure,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Idealist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idealist. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
