Synonyms of quixotic

quixotic

adjective

kwik-ˈsä-tik 

as in romantic

having or marked by a tendency to be guided more by ideals than by reality

in this age of giant chain stores, any attempt at operating an independent bookstore must be regarded as quixotic

Synonyms & Similar Words

• romantic
• impractical
• idealistic
• utopian
• ideological
• idealist
• optimistic
• quixotical
• visionary
• hopeful
• starry-eyed
• starry
• zealous
• unrealistic
• sentimental
• messianic
• crusading
• moony
• rosy
• upbeat
• doctrinaire
• Pollyannaish
• moonstruck
• tender-minded
• dewy-eyed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unsentimental
• pragmatic
• hardheaded
• practical
• realistic
• clear-eyed
• clear-sighted
• tough-minded
• hard-nosed

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective quixotic contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of quixotic are chimerical, fanciful, fantastic, imaginary, and visionary. While all these words mean "unreal or unbelievable," quixotic implies a devotion to romantic or chivalrous ideals unrestrained by ordinary prudence and common sense.

a quixotic crusade

How does the word chimerical relate to other synonyms for quixotic?

Chimerical combines the implication of visionary and fantastic.

chimerical dreams of future progress

When can fanciful be used instead of quixotic?

The words fanciful and quixotic can be used in similar contexts, but fanciful suggests the free play of the imagination.

a teller of fanciful stories

When would fantastic be a good substitute for quixotic?

While the synonyms fantastic and quixotic are close in meaning, fantastic implies incredibility or strangeness beyond belief.

a fantastic world inhabited by monsters

When is imaginary a more appropriate choice than quixotic?

The meanings of imaginary and quixotic largely overlap; however, imaginary applies to something which is fictitious and purely the product of one's imagination.

an imaginary desert isle

When is it sensible to use visionary instead of quixotic?

While in some cases nearly identical to quixotic, visionary stresses impracticality or incapability of realization.

visionary schemes

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of quixotic

The Luddites are back, wrecking technology in a quixotic effort to stop progress. —Craig S. Smith, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026

From that lens, the NCAA portrays the objectors as relying on a novel or quixotic theory (the counterargument, of course, is that the House settlement’s features are matters of first impression for any court and the lack of precedent shouldn’t be disqualifying). —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 5 Jan. 2026

In the end, Dylan circles back to the quixotic nature of the task of describing Willie Nelson. —Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 22 Dec. 2025

The central mystery eventually takes over, but The Lowdown is most interested in leaning on its protagonist, poking at Raybon’s blindspots and his quixotic pursuits for truth. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025

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