Synonyms of ideals

ideals

noun

plural of ideal

1

as in ideas

someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation

she's our ideal of the concerned, caring physician

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ideas
• models
• examples
• incarnations
• manifestations
• patron saints
• pinnacles
• paragons
• exemplars
• classics
• standards
• nonpareils
• principles
• beau ideals
• paradigms
• mirrors
• essences
• eidolons
• nonesuches
• guidelines
• phantoms
• role models
• personifications
• pinks
• archetypes
• touchstones
• rules
• embodiments
• epitomes
• culminations
• summits
• patterns
• zeniths
• gauges
• apexes
• peaks
• apotheoses
• acmes
• quintessences

2

as in perfections

the most perfect type or example

the Taj Mahal in India is generally regarded as the ideal of Mogul architectural beauty

Synonyms & Similar Words

• perfections
• classics
• manifestations
• models
• standards
• incarnations
• exemplars
• paradigms
• bywords
• epitomes
• beau ideals
• prototypes
• heights
• apotheoses
• zeniths
• acmes
• avatars
• archetypes
• benchmarks
• quintessences
• ultimates
• criteria
• incorporations
• paragons
• personifications
• abstracts
• touchstones
• last words
• meridians
• embodiments
• nonpareils
• yardsticks
• embodiers

3

as in goals

something that one hopes or intends to accomplish

his ideal is to make enough money so that he can retire at 50

Synonyms & Similar Words

• goals
• purposes
• plans
• ideas
• intentions
• objectives
• aims
• ambitions
• intents
• dreams
• objects
• aspirations
• things
• meanings
• pretensions
• designs
• targets
• points
• ends
• hopes
• projects
• desires
• marks
• wishes
• bournes
• minds
• schemes
• plots
• destinations
• holy grails
• grails
• nirvanas
• termini

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• methods
• means
• ways

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of ideals

Only in that way can a free and independent judiciary continue to deliver the ideals outlined in the founding documents of what is the most durable democracy ever conceived and created. — David Baldacci, Vanity Fair, 3 Nov. 2026

But the ideals of American citizenship still stand as a beacon to much of the world. — Eric J. Gertler, New York Daily News, 2 Nov. 2026

But there's a likely clash of ideals and approach coming on the left over the next several months, as the Democratic presidential primaries. — Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 1 Nov. 2026

Hope and humanity, as the Holocaust Center likes to say, are not passive ideals, but daily choices. — Linda Chapin, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2026

So many have worked so hard to maintain these ideals which guarantee the peace of our community. — Rabbi David Steinhardt, Sun Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026

This book is part of the Wonderland Quartet and is Joyce thinking about identity, thinking about the conflict between American ideals. — Anne Kniggendorf, Kansas City Star, 27 Oct. 2026

Eisenkot sees the election as a test of whether Israel can preserve the democratic and national ideals of the Zionist movement or drift further from them. — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 25 Oct. 2026

And in making their decisions to leave, both Kate and Hal are weighing the trade-off between access and ideals. — Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2026