idealist

1 of 2

noun

ide·​al·​ist ī-ˈdē-(ə-)list 

ˈī-(ˌ)dē-

1

: one guided by ideals

especially : one that places ideals before practical considerations

2

a

: an adherent of a philosophical theory of idealism

b

: an artist or author who advocates or practices idealism in art or writing

idealist

2 of 2

adjective

: idealistic

Synonyms

Noun

• Don Quixote
• dreamer
• fantast
• idealizer
• ideologue
• idealogue
• romantic
• romanticist
• utopian
• visionary

Adjective

• idealistic
• quixotic
• quixotical
• romantic
• starry
• starry-eyed
• utopian
• visionary

Examples of idealist in a Sentence

Noun

an idealist sees the best in everyone, regardless of how they behave

Adjective

an idealist attempt to make a go of a mom-and-pop hardware store on Main Street

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

For idealists and progressives, isolationism meant escaping realpolitik and enabling investment in the country’s economic well-being rather than in instruments of war. —Charles Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 9 Sep. 2024

That tense meeting of the Harris clan over Kamala’s career is a metaphor for a generation of idealists passing the torch to their more cold-eyed kids. —Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2024

Adjective

The movie stars Adam Driver as Cesar Catilina, an idealist architect with the power to control time, who is determined to rebuild a city that seems like New York after an accident plunges it into ruins. —Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 8 Sep. 2024

The film’s first trailer released on Monday, featuring Adam Driver as an idealist architect up against Giancarlo Esposito as a pragmatist mayor. —Zoe G Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1803, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Adjective

1856, in the meaning defined above