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
The actress puts her Broadway chops to good use as the ambitious perfectionist (and Barbra Streisand obsessive) Rachel Berry on Glee, earning Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for the role.
—
James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Apr. 2026
Kurtz said the partners are all perfectionists, and that carries over to their cup quality.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2026
Monsieur D’Estrées was a very strict teacher, a perfectionist.
—Valentina Bottoni, Vanity Fair, 30 Mar. 2026
Schaefer’s the perfectionist’s perfectionist.
—Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026
This means the perfectionist in you can zero in on the perfect shade of beige or blue without shelling out for customized covers.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 3 Mar. 2026
As a teacher and mother—and lifelong perfectionist—I was used to tending to others’ emotional needs, anticipating them.
—Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026
Rumi, who’s a perfectionist, that leads to a lot of the darkness and her shadow side.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 17 Feb. 2026
One is a nomad, and one is an organized perfectionist.
—Amanda Favazza, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2026
James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Apr. 2026
Kurtz said the partners are all perfectionists, and that carries over to their cup quality.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2026
Monsieur D’Estrées was a very strict teacher, a perfectionist.
—Valentina Bottoni, Vanity Fair, 30 Mar. 2026
Schaefer’s the perfectionist’s perfectionist.
—Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026
This means the perfectionist in you can zero in on the perfect shade of beige or blue without shelling out for customized covers.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 3 Mar. 2026
As a teacher and mother—and lifelong perfectionist—I was used to tending to others’ emotional needs, anticipating them.
—Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026
Rumi, who’s a perfectionist, that leads to a lot of the darkness and her shadow side.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 17 Feb. 2026
One is a nomad, and one is an organized perfectionist.
—Amanda Favazza, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perfectionist
dreamer
Noun
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What began in 1923 as a temporary billboard for a housing development has since transformed into one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world, drawing dreamers, tourists and hikers alike into its orbit.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
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There’s still a chance Bosa could unite with big brother, Joey Bosa, and dreamers will fantasize for Myles Garrett, but, alas, this pre-draft story is about unproven prospects.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Perfectionist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perfectionist. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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