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
Big Think, 6 Nov. 2025
And the call isn’t just coming from idealists this time – the prestigious science journal Nature is also now arguing for a global rail revival – not as a nostalgic nod to the past, but as a pragmatic cornerstone of climate strategy.
—Chelsea Haney
october 25, New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2025
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
Some idealists set out to build a new community from scratch.
—Big Think, 6 Nov. 2025
And the call isn’t just coming from idealists this time – the prestigious science journal Nature is also now arguing for a global rail revival – not as a nostalgic nod to the past, but as a pragmatic cornerstone of climate strategy.
—Chelsea Haney
october 25, New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for idealist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idealist
Adjective
-
The elegant square neckline paired with the drop Basque waist creates a romantic silhouette.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Unrequited romantic feelings activate major cringe as Venus and Saturn align.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Manufacturing scale will separate winners from dreamers.—
Ravin Gandhi,
CNBC,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Such psychedelic experience is echoed in a local belief that the forest spirit appears to dreamers in the form of a tiger.—
Anel Rakhimzhanova,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Curiosity widens your world as idealistic Venus moves through your 9th House of Philosophy, trining optimistic Jupiter in your thoughtful sign.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Practical Saturn meets idealistic Neptune in your 9th House of Travel and Learning, encouraging you to turn a quest into a structured path.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The Park Board can issue bonds, something that was impractical for the Port Authority.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Woanger Set of 4 Wicker Storage Baskets Pretty, functional storage solutions are the perfect antidote to impractical minimalism.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
This tracks with early Star Trek’s utopian treatment of technology and its potential as broadly positive for humanity and our progression.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The blockaders, led by a charismatic Pacheedaht elder named Bill Jones, had built little utopian encampments throughout the forest, drawing people from all over Canada.—
Robert Moor,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Idealist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idealist. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
