Synonyms of idealistic

idealistic

adjective

(ˌ)ī-ˌdē-(ə-)ˈli-stik 

as in romantic

having or marked by a tendency to be guided more by ideals than by reality

idealistic pacifists who thought that tyranny could be toppled by rational argument and mutual understanding

Synonyms & Similar Words

• romantic
• impractical
• idealist
• utopian
• quixotic
• optimistic
• ideological
• starry-eyed
• hopeful
• visionary
• starry
• quixotical
• unrealistic
• zealous
• sentimental
• messianic
• crusading
• moony
• rosy
• Pollyannaish
• tender-minded
• doctrinaire
• upbeat
• moonstruck
• dewy-eyed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unsentimental
• pragmatic
• hardheaded
• realistic
• practical
• clear-eyed
• clear-sighted
• tough-minded
• hard-nosed

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of idealistic

Reid’s version — which features Esmé Creed-Miles (Hanna) as the idealistic Marianne — feels more modern. — Shelby Stivale, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Sep. 2026

After an idealistic youth and a subsequent nervous breakdown, our eldest Ramona, Ramona Jover, eventually finds strength in resignation to what a woman born in the 1800s can ever do or be. — Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026

Harper arrived at Bates College in Maine in 2020 as an idealistic new PhD in comparative literature, grateful for the tenure-track job that promised him that rarest of prizes these days — a career in the humanities. — Gary Rosen, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2026

The dominos had been falling inside Paul Weiss for years, past and present staffers at the firm told the Times, a battle between lawyers interested in idealistic litigation and corporate-minded attorneys with a focus on mergers and business. — Eve Batey, Vanity Fair, 2 Aug. 2026