as in utopia
an often imaginary place or state of utter perfection and happiness
a depiction of Merry Old England that debunks the popular notion that it was ever some sort of never-never land
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Recent Examples of never-never land
Yet the extravagance that helped define E3’s never-never land feeling remained at full-tilt.
—
Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 12 Dec. 2023
Over the course of his career, Buffett earned their love by transforming himself into a kind of musical shaman who offered transport from the banalities of everyday life to the bounty of a never-never land of eternal sun, endless sandy beaches and bottomless boat drinks: Margaritaville.
—Drew M. Dalton, Fortune, 10 Sep. 2023
Pavelski was curling in from the left wing, outpaced his check, only to get clobbered to never-never land by Dumba.
—Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Apr. 2023
Every chapter straddles the psychological never-never land between myth and science.
—Robert M. Thorson, WSJ, 4 Mar. 2022
Ownership of both is a must for the haves and a never-never land for the have-nots.
—Scott Burns, Dallas News, 9 Oct. 2020
Of course, this abject failure is nothing new in the never-never land of presidential debates.
—Washington Post, 24 Sep. 2020
But for ten days every June, when the Aspen Ideas Festival is in full swing, a technicolour fever dream descends and the campus becomes a corporate never-never land.
—The Economist, 11 Oct. 2019
Off to never-never land: Thousands drive, bike, walk and board packed trains to Metallica concert at Chase Center.
—Taylor Kate Brown, SFChronicle.com, 9 Sep. 2019
Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 12 Dec. 2023
Over the course of his career, Buffett earned their love by transforming himself into a kind of musical shaman who offered transport from the banalities of everyday life to the bounty of a never-never land of eternal sun, endless sandy beaches and bottomless boat drinks: Margaritaville.
—Drew M. Dalton, Fortune, 10 Sep. 2023
Pavelski was curling in from the left wing, outpaced his check, only to get clobbered to never-never land by Dumba.
—Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Apr. 2023
Every chapter straddles the psychological never-never land between myth and science.
—Robert M. Thorson, WSJ, 4 Mar. 2022
Ownership of both is a must for the haves and a never-never land for the have-nots.
—Scott Burns, Dallas News, 9 Oct. 2020
Of course, this abject failure is nothing new in the never-never land of presidential debates.
—Washington Post, 24 Sep. 2020
But for ten days every June, when the Aspen Ideas Festival is in full swing, a technicolour fever dream descends and the campus becomes a corporate never-never land.
—The Economist, 11 Oct. 2019
Off to never-never land: Thousands drive, bike, walk and board packed trains to Metallica concert at Chase Center.
—Taylor Kate Brown, SFChronicle.com, 9 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for never-never land
Noun
-
The utopia was temporary, its beauty and its small victories whittled away by the scythe of inaction.—
Hanif Abdurraqib,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Moursi traces the notion of islands as utopias to Plato’s description of Atlantis, written around 360 BCE.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Seattle is an outdoor lover’s paradise packed with things to do in all four seasons, from summer hikes to winter snow sports.—
Scott Bay,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Apr. 2026
-
As the heart of the Bremec Garden Center locations, the Chesterland site is a plant lover’s paradise.—
Teresa Woodard,
Midwest Living,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In Catholic theology, purgatory is the in-between—not heaven, not hell, but a passage of purification before something better.—
Geoff Curtis,
Fortune,
6 Apr. 2026
-
In an interview ahead of Palm Sunday, senior pastor Robert Jeffress reflected on specific scripture that says the whole world will burn someday, but there will be a new heaven and a new earth with Christ.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In fact, at one time any man who signed up for the Continental Army was promised land that rightfully belonged to Native Americans.—
Sandra Dallas,
Denver Post,
6 Dec. 2025
-
The proposals — presented by Preston North End chief executive Peter Ridsdale to a meeting of Championship chief executives last week — received widespread backing, as clubs sensed the door to the Premier League’s promised land creaking open a little wider.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Never-never land.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/never-never%20land. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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