Synonyms of pragmatic

pragmatic

adjective

prag-ˈma-tik 

variants also pragmatical

as in practical

willing to see things as they really are and deal with them sensibly

a pragmatic man, not given to grand, visionary schemes

Synonyms & Similar Words

• practical
• realistic
• sensible
• rational
• logical
• cynical
• down-to-earth
• matter-of-fact
• reasonable
• hardheaded
• earthy
• grounded
• utilitarian
• sound
• sober
• sane
• skeptical
• commonsensical
• levelheaded
• unsentimental
• disillusioned
• bottom-line
• hard
• unromantic
• no-nonsense
• pessimistic
• tough-minded
• misanthropic
• suspicious
• hard-edged
• distrustful
• idealless
• mistrustful
• sobersided
• philistine
• hard-boiled

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• idealistic
• impractical
• unrealistic
• utopian
• visionary
• imaginative
• blue-sky
• romantic
• fanciful
• optimistic
• sentimental
• fantastic
• cheerful
• theoretical
• unreasonable
• irrational
• illogical
• trusting
• insane
• trustful
• rose-colored
• unsuspicious
• half-baked

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of pragmatic

The report concludes with a handful of recommendations aimed at addressing San Diego city finances in a more pragmatic manner. —Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026

Trotsky himself had seen that the pragmatist follower who lacks true belief usually ends up on the other side; a passionate believer who lacks pragmatic planning skills usually ends up dead. —Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026

That meant Polk had to be pragmatic and end the war before the rising human cost of the conflict spiraled out of control. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Apr. 2026

This is a pragmatic philosophy. —Alec Lewis, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026