1
as in theoretical
dealing with or expressing a quality or idea
honesty is an ideal entity that has more admirers than practitioners
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in imaginary
not real and existing only in the imagination
depicts an ideal society in which conflict and privation are unknown
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in perfect
being entirely without fault or flaw
for years she's been searching for a man who would make an ideal husband, and she's still looking
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in idea
someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation
she's our ideal of the concerned, caring physician
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2
as in classic
the most perfect type or example
the Taj Mahal in India is generally regarded as the ideal of Mogul architectural beauty
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3
as in purpose
something that one hopes or intends to accomplish
his ideal is to make enough money so that he can retire at 50
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ideal
Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 13 June 2026
Two guest rooms — ideal for Kamal and Riva’s twin daughters — connect through a former sleeping porch with a fireplace and built-ins, creating flexible space for an office, hobby room or hangout area.
—David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2026
Faith Salie, CBS News, 14 June 2026
Studies in the 1960s and 1970s looked at how the spread of radio and television may have been exposing people to ideals about small families.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ideal
Adjective
Growing between 4 and 15-feet tall, mountain laurel plants make ideal foundation shrubs; however, dwarf varieties, like ‘Elf’ and ‘Tinkerbell,’ can also be kept in roomy and well-draining pots.
—Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 13 June 2026
Two guest rooms — ideal for Kamal and Riva’s twin daughters — connect through a former sleeping porch with a fireplace and built-ins, creating flexible space for an office, hobby room or hangout area.
—David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2026
Noun
The ideals that are outlined in the Declaration of Independence are timeless.
—Faith Salie, CBS News, 14 June 2026
Studies in the 1960s and 1970s looked at how the spread of radio and television may have been exposing people to ideals about small families.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ideal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ideal
Adjective
-
The cycle resembled theoretical versions of a Big Bang followed by a Big Crunch, a scenario in which the universe’s expansion eventually reverses.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
13 June 2026
-
Though theoretical predictions suggest quantum systems could accelerate AI optimization tasks by 10^6 or more for specific problem classes, quantum machine learning remains experimental.—
Chuck Brooks,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
Adjective
-
She was arrested last summer for yelling at imaginary people due to her psychiatric challenges, Murphy said.—
Jack Dura,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2026
-
But these images as well as those from other cultures are evidence of how deeply the dog is lodged in folk consciousness as an imaginary animal alter ego.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
The Sparks were nearly perfect in the first quarter before committing their first turnover with under five minutes to play.—
Jordan Puente,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
-
The presidential suite has ergonomic desks and chairs (perfect for a working vacation) and brown leather details that give a cozy feel, plus floor-to-ceiling windows with unparalleled, unobstructed views of the city.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
In Labour circles, there is an old joke poking fun at Burnham’s chameleon-like ability to blend into whichever set of ideas is in vogue on the left at that moment in time.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
-
That idea guided nearly every aspect of the wardrobe.—
Precious Fondren,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
Noun
-
Summer is the season to embrace colorful stones in addition to the classics.—
Aemilia Madden,
Vogue,
18 June 2026
-
During IndieWire’s Craft Roundtables panel, series production designer Susie Mancini spoke about fixing up the 1989 classic to retrofit it to a contemporary story.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
The Supreme Court decided in 2014 that inherited IRAs do not qualify as retirement funds for purposes of federal bankruptcy protection, as beneficiaries cannot make new contributions and are often required to take distributions from the account.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
-
That purpose might come from family, work, creativity, advocacy, faith or friendships.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Flow Space,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
Instrumental rock music of the kind Horse Lords make—hypnotic, hyper-focused, complex—usually carries a whiff of manifesto, offering a map toward transcendence of some political, metaphysical, or pick-your-variety kind.—
Jayson Greene,
Pitchfork,
16 June 2026
-
Rationality lurks in theology from the beginning, just as philosophy never shakes off its yearning for the metaphysical.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
The mural that wraps around the room depicts the colorful life of the bar’s namesake, Arabella Huntington, the second wife of railroad magnate Collis Potter Huntington, and the cocktails in the drinks menu are playfully written as fictional entries in Arabella’s diary.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 June 2026
-
In the show, the fictional version of Harrelson goes to stay at McConaughey's ranch in Austin, but things spiral out of control after McConaughey's mom, played by Holland Taylor, lets their possible familial connection slip.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ideal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ideal. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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