idealist

[ ahy-dee-uh-list ]

noun

1. a person who cherishes or pursues high or noble principles, purposes, goals, etc.

   Synonyms: utopianist, visionary, reformer, perfectionist, optimist

   Antonyms: cynic, skeptic, pragmatist

2. a visionary or impractical person.

   Synonyms: stargazer, dreamer, romanticist, romantic

   Antonyms: materialist, realist

3. a person who represents things as they might or should be rather than as they are:

   My friend is an idealist, who somehow thinks that we always agree.

4. a writer or artist who treats subjects imaginatively.
5. a person who accepts the doctrines of philosophical idealism, as by representing things in an ideal form, or as they might or should be rather than as they are.

adjective

1. of or relating to idealism or idealists; idealistic.

Other Words From

• anti-i·deal·ist noun adjective
• hyper·i·deal·ist noun
• super·i·deal·ist noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of idealist¹

First recorded in 1695–1705; ideal + -ist

Example Sentences

"Their outlooks had much in common; and no doubt this close association between the idealist older scientist and the young, compassionate student, must have helped to form and to crystallise the convictions of Shapurji," Sehri writes in the book.

From BBC

Call me an idealist, but I also don’t think all of these voters are simply engaged in progressive virtue signaling.

From Slate

The idealist in me wanted to believe Jill could be right, but the realist in me wasn’t convinced.

From Los Angeles Times

Whether you’re a pragmatist who wants working boats now or an idealist dedicated to climate action, to me this debate makes one thing clear.

From Seattle Times

As a squirmy revenge maneuver, Samet engineers a dinner in secret with Nuray, which begins with a gripping dinnertime political debate between the blasé realist and the fierce idealist, fraught with more than one kind of tension.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• dreamer
• optimist
• visionary