idealistic
/ai,diə'listik/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Having high moral or intellectual ideals; elevated in nature: Characterized by a belief in or pursuit of lofty, noble, or perfect principles, often without regard to practical considerations.
- Relating to idealism: Of or pertaining to the philosophical doctrine that ideas, or the mind, constitute the fundamental reality.
Usage and Examples
- General Use (Having high ideals):
- Her idealistic vision for world peace inspired many young activists.
- He was too idealistic to understand the compromises required in politics.
- Philosophical Use (Relating to idealism):
- The philosopher's idealistic framework argued that consciousness shapes reality.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
- "Idealistic" vs. "Realistic": Often used in contrast to "realistic" to highlight a focus on how things should be rather than how they are.
- His plan was dismissed as being overly idealistic and impractical.
- "Youthfully idealistic": A common collocation suggesting idealism is often associated with youth.
- She held the youthfully idealistic belief that she could change the system from within.
Variants and Related Words
- Idealism (n): The attitude or practice of pursuing noble ideals, or the philosophical theory.
- His idealism was tempered by experience.
- Idealist (n): A person who is guided by ideals, especially unrealistically.
- She was a dreamer and an idealist.
- Ideal (n/adj): A standard of perfection; conforming to an ultimate standard of excellence.
- He fought for his political ideals.
Synonyms
- Utopian: Aiming for a state of perfection, often impractically.
- Quixotic: Exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical.
- Noble: Having high moral principles.
- Lofty: Of a high moral or intellectual level.
Antonyms
- Realistic: Having a sensible and practical idea of what can be achieved.
- Pragmatic: Dealing with things sensibly and realistically.
- Cynical: Believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest.
Idioms and Common Phrases
- "Idealism meets reality": A phrase describing the moment when high ideals confront practical limitations.
- For the new mayor, it was a case of idealism meeting reality.
Adjective
- of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style
- an exalted ideal
- argue in terms of high-flown ideals- Oliver Franks
- a noble and lofty concept
- a grand purpose
- of or relating to the philosophical doctrine of the reality of ideas