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

Mills, the younger cop played by Pitt, is an idealist who refers to himself as Serpico (a nod to another of the film’s clear influences, Sidney Lumet) and takes his role cleaning up the streets seriously. —Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 7 Jan. 2025

Hu was an idealist, an honest, sincere, and candid man, as described by many who knew him and worked with him. —Foreign Affairs, 1 Jan. 2025

Adjective

In the new release, Temple plays idealist scientist Dr. Teddy Paine opposite Chiwetel Ejiofor’s General Rex Strickland — the overseer of a secret research facility dedicated to symbiotes. —Raven Brunner, People.com, 25 Oct. 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1803, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Adjective

1856, in the meaning defined above