visionary 1 of 2

1
2
3

visionary

2 of 2

noun

1
as in diviner
one who predicts future events or developments according to Greek myth, Cassandra was a visionary who was endowed with the gift of inerrant prophecy but fated to never be believed

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in dreamer
one whose conduct is guided more by the image of perfection than by the real world 19th-century visionaries who founded short-lived communities in which everyone was supposed to live in perfect peace and harmony

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective visionary contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of visionary are chimerical, fanciful, fantastic, imaginary, and quixotic. While all these words mean "unreal or unbelievable," visionary stresses impracticality or incapability of realization.

visionary schemes

How is chimerical related to other words for visionary?

Chimerical combines the implication of visionary and fantastic.

chimerical dreams of future progress

When might fanciful be a better fit than visionary?

In some situations, the words fanciful and visionary are roughly equivalent. However, fanciful suggests the free play of the imagination.

a teller of fanciful stories

When can fantastic be used instead of visionary?

The meanings of fantastic and visionary largely overlap; however, fantastic implies incredibility or strangeness beyond belief.

a fantastic world inhabited by monsters

When is imaginary a more appropriate choice than visionary?

Although the words imaginary and visionary have much in common, imaginary applies to something which is fictitious and purely the product of one's imagination.

an imaginary desert isle

When could quixotic be used to replace visionary?

While in some cases nearly identical to visionary, quixotic implies a devotion to romantic or chivalrous ideals unrestrained by ordinary prudence and common sense.

a quixotic crusade

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of visionary
Adjective
Guillermo has been called a true visionary director. Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2025 Eli’s visionary approach to horror, combined with Snoop’s unparalleled creative energy, promises a film that will push boundaries and captivate audiences. Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
But there’s still something delectable about Guillermo del Toro, a director who is both a visionary and a genre classicist, returning to the original horror novel, the tale of monsters and madmen that gave birth to all subsequent tales of monsters and madmen. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2025 This was the station that launched iconic musicians and gave a voice to the outcasts and visionaries of Southern California and beyond. Nicole Alvarez, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for visionary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for visionary
Adjective
  • In this state, the nervous system’s fight-or-flight response takes priority, inhibiting relaxation, pleasure and trust, which make for the key ingredients of romantic connection.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The history of when to break romantic tension on a TV series often has an outsized impact on the reception or even lifespan of that series.
    Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The duo have been cautious in their classification, allowing for the possibility that a torus of material could be behind the observations.
    Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • But being cautious doesn’t mean ignoring the risks.
    Matt Emma, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • That spells trouble in the Indo-Pacific, a watery region where military leaders and Beltway diviners believe a war over Taiwan could erupt as soon as 2027.
    Colin Demarest, Axios, 8 Mar. 2025
  • The diviner then asks a question in a yes-or-no format while tapping the enclosure to encourage the spider or crab to emerge.
    Michelle Aroney and David Zeitlyn, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Like legions of dreamers before him, McGuirk started on film and TV sets as a PA, an often thankless job where random castigations from members of the cast or crew can be par for the course.
    Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Continue To Dream At the heart of every nonprofit is a desire for transformative change—a testament to the dreamers and visionaries who brave challenges in pursuit of a better world.
    Rachelle Rutherford, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • But, because mange often accompanies secondary infections and nutritional imbalances, treatment in the wild is impractical, making the work at Walden's Puddle and other rehabilitation facilities all the more important, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Communications Manager Jason Harmon said.
    Katie Nixon, Nashville Tennessean, 5 Sep. 2025
  • The internet faced ridicule for its impractical nature during its initial development phase.
    Sadhasivam Mohanadas, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Over at Metropolitan State University, the on-campus gallery is presenting works from five Twin Cities Latino artists working across paintings, puppetry, photography and more focused on bestiarios, or fantastical, mythical beasts.
    Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Renewal Through Setback Erik Marthon Olsen of Laerdal Invest chose the phoenix, the mythical bird that rises from its own ashes.
    Francois Botha, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Both coaches and players have been respectful of the other team all week, careful not to produce any bulletin board material.
    Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Ben Lewis Doherty, playing a boy named Sam whose life is upended by Robbie, is the show’s greatest innocent, a softhearted moppet who warns deer to be careful when crossing the street.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Our quartet of faith leaders believes the role of the prophet is to remind people of morality and justice and warn them of the consequences of their actions.
    Ciera Bates-Chamberlain, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
  • For all her outward support, his wife has clearly begun to have her doubts about her beloved prophet.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Visionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/visionary. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on visionary

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!