ide·al·ist ī-ˈdē-(ə-)list 
ˈī-(ˌ)dē-
Examples of idealist in a Sentence
Noun an idealist sees the best in everyone, regardless of how they behave Adjective an idealist attempt to make a go of a mom-and-pop hardware store on Main Street
Recent Examples on the Web
Literary Hub, 20 Mar. 2026 While Sophie has a pragmatic approach to life, she’s complemented by Benedict, a dreamy idealist. —Kat Moon, Time, 29 Jan. 2026
Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026 The contact with and dependence on such support arguably also bolstered art’s worldliness and acted as an antidote to the petit bourgeois affinity for idealist mystification. —Diedrich Diederichsen, Artforum, 1 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for idealist
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.
Noun
Gorton skillfully depicts the grueling decades-long struggle of Sanger (the icon, in this telling) and Dennett (the idealist) to make birth control available and legal, as well as their interpersonal competition for power and influence. —Literary Hub, 20 Mar. 2026 While Sophie has a pragmatic approach to life, she’s complemented by Benedict, a dreamy idealist. —Kat Moon, Time, 29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Sagittarius is an idealist sign that can totally relate to this tale of enduring relationships. —Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026 The contact with and dependence on such support arguably also bolstered art’s worldliness and acted as an antidote to the petit bourgeois affinity for idealist mystification. —Diedrich Diederichsen, Artforum, 1 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for idealist
Cite this Entry
“Idealist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/idealist. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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