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
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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
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Recent Examples of idealist
Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 8 Sep. 2024
The film’s first trailer released on Monday, featuring Adam Driver as an idealist architect up against Giancarlo Esposito as a pragmatist mayor.
—Zoe G Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 May 2024
Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 30 June 2025
But despite uncovering disappointing behaviors on the part of politicians and various institutions over the years, Moyers was fundamentally an idealist.
—Carmel Dagan, Variety, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for idealist
Adjective
The movie stars Adam Driver as Cesar Catilina, an idealist architect with the power to control time, who is determined to rebuild a city that seems like New York after an accident plunges it into ruins.
—Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 8 Sep. 2024
The film’s first trailer released on Monday, featuring Adam Driver as an idealist architect up against Giancarlo Esposito as a pragmatist mayor.
—Zoe G Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 May 2024
Noun
Culkin will star as Karl, a nervous young idealist who joins the staff of a high-security psychiatric Institute with good intentions, when he is assigned to care for one of its most dangerous inmates.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 30 June 2025
But despite uncovering disappointing behaviors on the part of politicians and various institutions over the years, Moyers was fundamentally an idealist.
—Carmel Dagan, Variety, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for idealist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idealist
Adjective
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This book is perfect for lovers of romantic vibes and the world of dance!—
Lynnette Nicholas,
Parents,
14 Aug. 2025
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The song finds Lacy unfiltered about his romantic frustrations.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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And then like really curious, really open-minded, a dreamer.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Aug. 2025
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But Eugenio Derbez — star and executive producer of the bilingual hit series — wants viewers to remember Máximo in the show's fourth and final season as a dreamer who also represents the moxie and creativity of hardworking Mexicans.—
Arturo Conde,
NBC news,
23 July 2025
Adjective
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Be Realistic Avoid making overly idealistic promises.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
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In exchange, the work burnishes the firm’s reputation and serves as a draw for idealistic young associates.—
Molly Redden,
ProPublica,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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In short, in some situations, meeting legal requirements and deploying a drone in advance is impractical and could actually result in a delay in law enforcement response.—
Steve Robson,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Aug. 2025
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Researchers note that due to terrain and cost challenges, large-scale machines are often impractical, prompting research into compact, robotic pruning solutions.—
Jill Barth,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Rather than bringing us together into one utopian public square and fostering a healthy exchange of ideas, these platforms too often create filter bubbles or echo chambers.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
13 Aug. 2025
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In one scene, Branko, a ghost, walks passively across a border without being stopped – a utopian ideal in itself.—
Sonya Vseliubska,
Variety,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Some observers emphasize ideological precedents from the Cold War.—
S. C. M. Paine,
Foreign Affairs,
19 Aug. 2025
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Advertisement Second, the recognition provides a constructive ideological counterweight to Hamas and other jihadist organizations.—
Ami Ayalon,
Time,
18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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There’s a quixotic gallantry to appealing to a saner conservative and looking ahead to a post-Trump American politics.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
14 Aug. 2025
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The quixotic quarterback decision that sealed the end.—
Seth Emerson,
New York Times,
30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Idealist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idealist. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.
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