idealistic
/ˌaɪ.dɪ.əˈlɪs.tɪk/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Having high ideals about how people or the world should be. An idealistic person may believe in fairness, peace, or perfect solutions, even when life is difficult.
- She was idealistic about reforming the school system.
- His idealistic views inspired many students.
- They had an idealistic plan for a better city.
Adinary Nuance
Idealistic is not the same as optimistic. Optimistic means expecting a good result; idealistic means believing in very high standards or perfect principles. It is also different from realistic, which focuses on what is practical and likely. Idealistic can sound admiring, but it can also suggest someone is too hopeful about how easy change will be.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- lý tưởng
- Spanish
- idealista
- Chinese
- 理想主义的
- Japanese
- 理想主義の
- Korean
- 이상주의적인
Etymology
Idealistic comes from ideal, which entered English from French and late Latin in the 18th century. The adjective idealistic appeared later, in the 19th century, to describe people guided by ideals.
Common phrases
an idealistic young personidealistic goalsan idealistic viewidealistic hopes
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is idealistic a positive word?
- Often, yes. It can praise strong values, but it can also suggest someone is too impractical.
- What is the difference between idealistic and realistic?
- Idealistic focuses on perfect values or high ideals. Realistic focuses on what is actually possible.
- Can I use idealistic in formal writing?
- Yes. It is common in essays, reports, and discussions about beliefs or politics.
- Is idealistic the same as optimistic?
- No. Optimistic is about expecting success. Idealistic is about believing in very high principles.