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Synonyms

quixotic

American  
[kwik-sot-ik] / kwɪkˈsɒt ɪk /
Sometimes quixotical

adjective

  1. (of a goal, action, or impulse) characterized by impractical idealism or by extravagant chivalry and romantic imagination.

    Synonyms:
    imaginary, fantastic, fanciful
    Antonyms:
    practical, realistic

  2. impulsive, overeager, or capricious.

  3. (sometimes initial capital letter) resembling or befitting Don Quixote.

quixotic British  
/ ˈkwɪksəˌtɪzəm, kwɪkˈsɒtɪk /

adjective

  1. preoccupied with an unrealistically optimistic or chivalrous approach to life; impractically idealistic

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • half-quixotic adjective
  • half-quixotically adverb
  • quixotically adverb
  • quixotism noun
  • unquixotic adjective
  • unquixotical adjective
  • unquixotically adverb

Etymology

Origin of quixotic

First recorded in 1805–15; (Don) Quixote + -ic

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“He wants to win this battle with the city; he wants to win in court. It’s become this personal quixotic quest for him,” agreed Ed.

From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026

Basically, this mascot is carrying the flag for a quixotic battle to save a dying industry.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2026

“This isn’t some sort of quixotic top-line grab,” Jassy said of the company’s AI investments.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 13, 2026

With its aims so quixotic and its ambitions so extravagant, the movement was destined to fail.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 5, 2025

Knowing Juanita and her quixotic ways, this could turn into one of her many harebrained schemes.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.