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ideal

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun ideal differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of ideal are example, exemplar, model, and pattern. While all these words mean "someone or something set before one for guidance or imitation," ideal implies the best possible exemplification either in reality or in conception.

never found a job that matched his ideal

When can example be used instead of ideal?

The synonyms example and ideal are sometimes interchangeable, but example applies to a person to be imitated or in some contexts on no account to be imitated but to be regarded as a warning.

children tend to follow the example of their parents

When might exemplar be a better fit than ideal?

The words exemplar and ideal are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, exemplar suggests either a faultless example to be emulated or a perfect typification.

cited Joan of Arc as the exemplar of courage

In what contexts can model take the place of ideal?

The words model and ideal can be used in similar contexts, but model applies to something taken or proposed as worthy of imitation.

a decor that is a model of good taste

When could pattern be used to replace ideal?

Although the words pattern and ideal have much in common, pattern suggests a clear and detailed archetype or prototype.

American industry set a pattern for others to follow

Example Sentences

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 ideal
Adjective
Retail stocks that have strong membership numbers and retention rates are ideal candidates to hold as recession fears grow, according to Bernstein. Brian Evans, CNBC, 25 Mar. 2025 Bi-annual vent clean-out: It’s generally recommended that the dryer vent be cleared out twice yearly (spring and fall are ideal). Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Mar. 2025
Noun
My feminine ideal is my mom, who doesn’t have all the curves. EW.com, 22 Mar. 2025 Bill Voda, Warrenville Gibson’s park board tenure makes her ideal for council Committed, tireless, qualified. Naperville Sun, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ideal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ideal
Adjective
  • Google leverages the theoretical power of generative AI to give Gemini access to data across multiple apps.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Over the ensuing fifteen years, publications about the theoretical or methodological implications of computer vision for the study of art have proliferated, generating an extensive discourse about its potentials.
    Sonja Drimmer, Artforum, 1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Herbal Corsican rosés are perfect with soft goat cheeses and the ricotta-like local cheese, brocciu.
    Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Rooms are bright and airy, and the front porch is perfect for lazy afternoons.
    Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 3 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The first myth is that innovation hinges on a single monumental idea.
    Mark Nevins, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
  • The basic idea goes back to the 1960s, when Disney started pumping smells into its theme parks, even patenting its own odor-making machine, the Smellitzer.
    Susan Campos, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • But so many of the genre’s classics also involve intimate moments indoors that almost feel like stage plays.
    Sezin Devi Keohler, EW.com, 29 Mar. 2025
  • What to Toss This Spring: Baggy Jeans What to Replace It With: Skinny Flare Jeans Baggy and wide-leg jeans have been strong trends in Hollywood over the past few years; stars including Meghan Markle are embracing a denim style that combines two classics: skinny-flare jeans.
    Nicol Natale, People.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • More than this perhaps, as Sara Halpern, visiting assistant professor of history at St. Olaf college, wrote to me, the attack had a broader purpose.
    Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Apr. 2025
  • The purpose of the show was to reach across the aisle and form connections between un-like-minded people.
    Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • This sends him on a high-stakes journey to find the mythical Last Wish, a fabled star that can restore his lost lives.
    Jane LaCroix, People.com, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega escape a murderous mythical creature in an exclusive new clip from Death of a Unicorn, in theaters March 28.
    Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Liu, 19, dazzled the home country crowd at TD Garden in Boston on Wednesday, March 26 by skating a flawless routine that featured a triple flip-triple toe combination, double Axel and triple Lutz.
    Lawrence Yee, People.com, 27 Mar. 2025
  • This way, the masks create a guide for a super-clean eyeliner application while catching any fallout from powder eyeshadows, creating a stencil effect for flawless eye makeup.
    Claire Sullivan, WWD, 24 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Cat trees price Cat trees vary in price from about $20 to $300 or more for larger, more complex models.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2025
  • But that share has declined in recent years, as brands including Ford (7.5%), Chevrolet (5.2%) and Hyundai (4.7%) began to offer a wider variety of electric models at better price points, according to Kelley Blue Book.
    Time, Time, 4 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ideal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ideal. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.

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