VISIONARY Synonyms: 192 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'visionary' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of visionary are chimerical , fanciful , fantastic , imaginary , and quixotic . While all these words mean "unreal or unbelievable," visionary stresses impracticality or incapability of realization. // visionary schemes

Q: How is 'chimerical' related to other words for 'visionary'?

Chimerical combines the implication of visionary and fantastic . // chimerical dreams of future progress

Q: When might 'fanciful' be a better fit than 'visionary'?

In some situations, the words fanciful and visionary are roughly equivalent. However, fanciful suggests the free play of the imagination. // a teller of fanciful stories

Q: When can 'fantastic' be used instead of 'visionary'?

The meanings of fantastic and visionary largely overlap; however, fantastic implies incredibility or strangeness beyond belief. // a fantastic world inhabited by monsters

Q: When is 'imaginary' a more appropriate choice than 'visionary'?

Although the words imaginary and visionary have much in common, imaginary applies to something which is fictitious and purely the product of one's imagination. // an imaginary desert isle

Q: When could 'quixotic' be used to replace 'visionary'?

While in some cases nearly identical to visionary , quixotic implies a devotion to romantic or chivalrous ideals unrestrained by ordinary prudence and common sense. // a quixotic crusade

visionary 1 of 2

adjective

ˈvi-zhə-ˌner-ē

Definition of visionary next

as in romantic

having or marked by a tendency to be guided more by ideals than by reality a visionary plan for a manned flight to Mars even though there are pressing problems right here on earth

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in mythic

not real and existing only in the imagination one of several Christian saints who claimed to have had visionary experiences of hell

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in cautious

having or showing awareness of and preparation for the future in a visionary move, the developer bought large tracts of the waterfront just before property values skyrocketed

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

visionary

2 of 2

noun

as in diviner

one who predicts future events or developments according to Greek myth, Cassandra was a visionary who was endowed with the gift of inerrant prophecy but fated to never be believed

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as in dreamer

one whose conduct is guided more by the image of perfection than by the real world 19th-century visionaries who founded short-lived communities in which everyone was supposed to live in perfect peace and harmony

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective visionary contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of visionary are chimerical, fanciful, fantastic, imaginary, and quixotic. While all these words mean "unreal or unbelievable," visionary stresses impracticality or incapability of realization.

visionary schemes

How is chimerical related to other words for visionary?

Chimerical combines the implication of visionary and fantastic.

chimerical dreams of future progress

When might fanciful be a better fit than visionary?

In some situations, the words fanciful and visionary are roughly equivalent. However, fanciful suggests the free play of the imagination.

a teller of fanciful stories

When can fantastic be used instead of visionary?

The meanings of fantastic and visionary largely overlap; however, fantastic implies incredibility or strangeness beyond belief.

a fantastic world inhabited by monsters

When is imaginary a more appropriate choice than visionary?

Although the words imaginary and visionary have much in common, imaginary applies to something which is fictitious and purely the product of one's imagination.

an imaginary desert isle

When could quixotic be used to replace visionary?

While in some cases nearly identical to visionary, quixotic implies a devotion to romantic or chivalrous ideals unrestrained by ordinary prudence and common sense.

a quixotic crusade

Examples Sentences

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Recent Examples of visionary

Adjective

With its narrative about a powerful genius and his visionary sound apparatus, Sholpo’s text reflected a vogue for science fiction and that genre’s obsession with futuristic gadgets. —

Lauren Rosati, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2024 Throughout dinner and dancing, the two were recognized for their visionary eye and contributions to the field. —

Alia Akkam, Architectural Digest, 28 Oct. 2024

Noun

Du Châtelet was searching for a grand synthesis of Newtonian, Cartesian, and Leibnizian ideas, in the way that Viennese visionaries of the nineteen-twenties hoped to unify all the sciences, and in the way that later thinkers tried to reconcile quantum physics with Einstein—and both with theology. —

Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024 Simon Fletcher, a multi-talented tech visionary who has done everything from founding his own startup companies to leading high-profile and prolific businesses within the tech industry, is a supreme example of how his generation has bucked expectations and trends at every turn. —

Kody Boye, USA TODAY, 27 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for visionary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for visionary

Adjective

The two had a romantic relationship, according to federal prosecutors. Gratz, 26, of Circle Pines, pleaded guilty to the same charge in September 2022.

Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 12 Nov. 2024
The film portrays the Mile End music scene that birthed artists like Mac DeMarco, Arcade Fire and Grimes, as Grace grapples with romantic obsession and finding her voice as a writer.

Alex Ritman, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024