IDEALISTIC Synonyms: 37 Similar and Opposite Words

idealistic

adjective

(ˌ)ī-ˌdē-(ə-)ˈli-stik

Definition of idealistic

as in romantic

having or marked by a tendency to be guided more by ideals than by reality idealistic pacifists who thought that tyranny could be toppled by rational argument and mutual understanding

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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 idealistic We’re introduced, in a kingdom under the seas ruled by merpeople, to an idealistic and sweet-hearted redheaded mermaid princess fascinated by the human world; in this version, Lara. — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 24 July 2026 Sly and the Family Stone’s more commercial ’60s work can be seen as far more utopian and idealistic than their darker ’70s albums. — Al Shipley, SPIN, 7 July 2026 Still, their ambitions are quite idealistic, even verging on evangelical. — Boris Kachka, The Atlantic, 3 July 2026 Chan stars as idealistic rookie officer Shih-Ting, while veteran actor Cheng portrays Hou, a pragmatic policeman approaching retirement. — Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for idealistic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for idealistic

Adjective

The Saturday Night Live alum worked with Fey on that show and on his current romantic dramedy, Netflix’s The Four Seasons.

— Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Sep. 2026
But though these chemicals are linked to mating in animal species, a link between pheromones and romantic attraction hasn’t been established in humans.

— Rachel Hale, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of romantic

Adjective

Force majeure clauses excuse a party from performance when an unforeseeable external event like extreme weather or war makes performance impossible or impractical.

— Ashlee Difuntorum, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
There is no justification for American deaths in the name of the unsustainable and impractical goal of total military dominance, let alone unnecessary wars of choice.

— Alexander Langlois, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of impractical

Adjective

Sagittarius is an idealist sign that can totally relate to this tale of enduring relationships.

— Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
The contact with and dependence on such support arguably also bolstered art’s worldliness and acted as an antidote to the petit bourgeois affinity for idealist mystification.

— Diedrich Diederichsen, Artforum, 1 Dec. 2025

Definition of idealist

Adjective

Fuller’s ideas are hard to summarize, but always seem to reach toward a utopian vision of escaping the drudgery of everyday life.

— Christopher Cox, Vanity Fair, 26 Aug. 2026
Zuckerberg’s hope is that these developers will use that freedom to develop user-friendly apps and businesses that will eventually usher in utopian AI tech to the average person.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of utopian

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“Idealistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idealistic. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of idealistic

adjective

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