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 Sutskever is portrayed as the idealistic, naive hero — the ingenious mind behind the lab’s entire existence who can’t stomach lying and is reluctant to accumulate any power. — Hayden Field, The Verge, 8 Oct. 2026 Geoff warns Ilya to moderate his projections, emphasizing the need for safeguards, but the idealistic Russian is swept up in the vast potential of AI — to solve the climate crisis, cure cancer, even save humanity from itself. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026 What was once a contemporary exploration of horror has become a sentimental aesthetic, with this particular version of 2011 looking ironically idealistic because younger viewers never had to live inside it. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 Oct. 2026 That book, which served as a major source for Christopher Nolan’s 2023 blockbuster biopic, Oppenheimer, presented a nuanced portrait of the idealistic, mystically inclined, yet duplicitous and power-seeking nuclear physicist. — Martin Filler, The New York Review of Books, 15 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for idealistic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for idealistic

Adjective

On the fall 2026 runways, romantic clothes arrived styled like everything else in your closet—a lace skirt with a cotton shirt, a gown with a combat boot, a ruffled collar over plain velvet trousers—and the shift is visible on the street too.

— Laurence Goldberg, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026
With a softly rounded outline and romantic facets, the cut evokes the era of craftsmanship that determined a diamond’s brilliance.

— Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of romantic

Adjective

Also, many families of rare disease patients spend years creating databases, known as natural history studies, so they can be used as control groups in trials instead of giving patients a placebo, which is often impractical and unethical.

— Gerry Smith, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
Texas law requires elementary schools to provide at least 30 minutes a day of moderate to vigorous physical activity, which can be cut to 27 minutes per day if scheduling makes the full amount impractical.

— Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of impractical

Adjective

The novela also joins two of Brazil’s most popular actors as a majorly successful romantic pairing, with Colin’s Adriana falling in love with Chay Suede’s idealist lawyer Pedro.

— Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
Sagittarius is an idealist sign that can totally relate to this tale of enduring relationships.

— Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026

Definition of idealist

Adjective

In their utopian reconstruction of a mythic past, the Agrarians’ polemics failed to mention the South’s legacies of slavery and rebellion.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026
Though privacy concerns around these agents’ access may be terrifying in their own right, for now the utopian vision seems to be winning.

— Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of utopian

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idealist

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“Idealistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idealistic. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of idealistic

adjective

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