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

Still, their ambitions are quite idealistic, even verging on evangelical. — Boris Kachka, The Atlantic, 3 July 2026

Chan stars as idealistic rookie officer Shih-Ting, while veteran actor Cheng portrays Hou, a pragmatic policeman approaching retirement. — Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 23 June 2026

The first stretch of the film centers on co-founder Ilya Sutskever (Yura Borisov), the idealistic scientific mind behind the company, before the boardroom power struggle takes over. — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 21 June 2026

Whitehead recounts the horrific abuse, torture and even murder through the bright-eyed, idealistic teen Elwood Curtis, who was wrongly sentenced to the Nickel Academy. — Janey Wetzel, PEOPLE, 19 June 2026