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

But the heart of the film is Boyes’ quixotic search, aided by trackers and anthropologists, and eventually, a regional king. —Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026

There is absolutely no reason to burn tread off the greatest shooter alive just to secure a meaningless moral victory on a Tuesday night in late-March in the service of some quixotic goal to lose later in the playoffs. —Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026

Disadvantages This strategy is unlikely—if not quixotic—from a political standpoint. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 10 Mar. 2026

This would mean giving up Khamenei’s quixotic quest to destroy Israel and instead conditioning recognition on a diplomatic solution to the conflict with the Palestinians. —Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 1 Mar. 2026

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