as in dreamer
a person who wants things to be done perfectly or who tries to do things perfectly
I'm a bit of a perfectionist, which makes it difficult for me to finish things sometimes.
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Recent Examples of perfectionist
While Davis was known as being a perfectionist to a fault, which sometimes led to clashes with cohorts on her many movie sets, this wasn't the case between the two actresses while filming 1961's Pocketful of Miracles.
—
Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
Kubrick was a notorious perfectionist who spent years on each of his films and demanded dozens, sometimes hundreds, of takes per scene.
—Lane Brown, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2025
Both Virgos and Taureans are known to be headstrong perfectionists, so don’t be too harsh on yourself during these fun few weeks.
—Snehaa Khanna Sahgal, Vogue, 26 Nov. 2025
There’s her character Maia, an overachieving perfectionist who is white knuckling her way through her career despite few connections and a boss who is not all that concerned with her upward mobility.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 2 Nov. 2025
That’s a meaningful admission coming from a guy who often seems like a musical perfectionist.
—Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
The perfectionist and the goof.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 14 Oct. 2025
Typical eldest daughter characteristics include being responsible, independent, empathic, caring, a perfectionist, stressed and anxious, the Cleveland Clinic notes.
—Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
Galligani, 55, remembers her mother as a perfectionist in the kitchen who would often scold her more free-spirited daughter for making a mess while cooking.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Sep. 2025
Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
Kubrick was a notorious perfectionist who spent years on each of his films and demanded dozens, sometimes hundreds, of takes per scene.
—Lane Brown, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2025
Both Virgos and Taureans are known to be headstrong perfectionists, so don’t be too harsh on yourself during these fun few weeks.
—Snehaa Khanna Sahgal, Vogue, 26 Nov. 2025
There’s her character Maia, an overachieving perfectionist who is white knuckling her way through her career despite few connections and a boss who is not all that concerned with her upward mobility.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 2 Nov. 2025
That’s a meaningful admission coming from a guy who often seems like a musical perfectionist.
—Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
The perfectionist and the goof.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 14 Oct. 2025
Typical eldest daughter characteristics include being responsible, independent, empathic, caring, a perfectionist, stressed and anxious, the Cleveland Clinic notes.
—Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
Galligani, 55, remembers her mother as a perfectionist in the kitchen who would often scold her more free-spirited daughter for making a mess while cooking.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perfectionist
dreamer
Noun
-
Across cultures and centuries, constellations have been used to explain myths, guide travelers, and inspire dreamers.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
30 Dec. 2025
-
The Audacity will star Billy Magnussen and Zach Galifianakis, and revolve around everyone in the orbit of tech’s Disneyland, from the makers and dreamers to the billionaires and bosses.—
Lucy Ford,
Time,
27 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Perfectionist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perfectionist. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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