as in dream
a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality
opening our own restaurant has long been a pipe dream
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Recent Examples of pipe dream
The outcome might not be peace, another pipe dream whose pursuit produced nothing but grief.
—
Hussein Agha, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
Without that, even the Merced to Bakersfield line may be a pipe dream.
—Tina Li, Sacbee.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Crow has a pipe dream that Swift will one day return.
—Bryan West, The Tennessean, 13 Aug. 2025
The Chicago Cubs acquired Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros in December as the missing superstar in the lineup, and his strong start helped fuel expectations that a return to the World Series wasn’t just a pipe dream.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pipe dream
Hussein Agha, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
Without that, even the Merced to Bakersfield line may be a pipe dream.
—Tina Li, Sacbee.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Crow has a pipe dream that Swift will one day return.
—Bryan West, The Tennessean, 13 Aug. 2025
The Chicago Cubs acquired Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros in December as the missing superstar in the lineup, and his strong start helped fuel expectations that a return to the World Series wasn’t just a pipe dream.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pipe dream
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pipe dream
Noun
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Humming Bird is a self-care dream with multiple outdoor showers and baths to relax and unwind.—
Rana Good,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
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Now, 32 years later, at age 60, Diana rekindles her dream of conquering this aquatic marathon, determined to face the open waters with the support of both her coach (Jodie Foster) and a team of sailors and without the protection of a shark cage.—
Alex Gurley,
People.com,
31 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Advertisement The difference in hurricane activity between the two oceans is actually more climatological illusion than fact.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
5 Sep. 2025
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Torches held by ancient hands would have given the tableau the illusion of movement.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Designers leaned into loose, chemise-style dresses that evoked a European countryside sensibility (cue the daydream of wandering through a field of lilacs).—
Jalil Johnson,
Refinery29,
13 Aug. 2025
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Ellen retreats to her room and daydreams of her father, who understood his headstrong daughter.—
Lincee Ray Published,
EW.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Welcome to my annual fantasy hockey dynasty rankings at The Athletic.—
Scott Wheeler,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
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Lamb’s seven catches for 110 yards look good, and will appease some fantasy football owners.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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To bring this vision to life, Everton turned to Populous, the sports and entertainment design firm whose extensive back catalogue includes the likes of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Wembley and The Sphere in Las Vegas.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
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Working with Brian Rose, who spent the last five years trying to recreate the film with charcoal drawings, physical models of the sets, and researching storyboards and screenplay drafts, Showrunner will spend next two years to get as close as possible to Welles’ vision.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pipe dream.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pipe%20dream. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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