Idealistic: meaning, definitions and examples

Used for people who have strong beliefs about how things should be and are often not willing to compromise.

• She is an idealistic young teacher who believes every student can succeed.
• His idealistic views on politics make him stand out.

Appropriate for situations where someone expects positive outcomes and looks on the bright side of things.

• Despite the setbacks, she remains optimistic about the future of the project.
• He is always optimistic, no matter the challenges he faces.

Best used when referring to an idealized view of reality, often involving love or adventure. It can also imply a dreamy or slightly impractical approach.

• She had a romantic notion of finding her soulmate through an old-fashioned love letter.
• His romantic view of the world often leads him to unexpected adventures.

Pertains to the idea of a perfect society or situation, often used in contexts related to social, political, or communal ideals. It can have a connotation of being impractical.

• The community's utopian vision lacked a practical implementation strategy.
• Her utopian ideals inspired many but were challenging to realize.

Refers to someone or something overly idealistic to the point of being unrealistic or impractical, often with a romantic or chivalrous connotation. This word often has a negative or whimsical undertone.

• His quixotic plan to single-handedly clean the entire beach was doomed from the start.
• They embarked on a quixotic quest to find a mythical treasure.