quixotism
/'kwiksətizm/ Cách viết khác : (quixotics) /kwik'sɔtiks/ (quixotry) /'kwiksətri/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: - Quixotic (romantic and impractical) behavior: The quality or state of being quixotic; the pursuit of lofty, romantic, or chivalrous ideals in a manner that is utterly impractical, unrealistic, or foolish, often with noble intentions but a disregard for reality or consequences.
Usage
- General Use: Used to describe actions, plans, or attitudes that are idealistic to the point of being impractical or foolishly romantic.
- His quixotism led him to invest his entire fortune in a scheme to build a utopian community in the desert.
- The politician was criticized for the quixotism of his foreign policy, which ignored harsh geopolitical realities.
Advanced Usage
- As a Character Trait: Often used to describe a persistent personal quality.
- Her lifelong quixotism, while charming, often left her disappointed when the world failed to meet her lofty expectations.
- In Literary/Critical Analysis: Used to analyze characters or movements that embody impractical idealism.
- The novel explores the quixotism of its protagonist, drawing a parallel to Cervantes' famous hero.
Variants and Related Words
- Quixotic (adj): Describing someone or something that is exceedingly idealistic, unrealistic, and impractical.
- He had a quixotic dream of ending world hunger single-handedly.
- Quixotry (n): A less common synonym for quixotism, meaning the same thing.
- His actions were dismissed as mere quixotry by his more pragmatic colleagues.
Synonyms
- Idealism (though this is more neutral and less pejorative)
- Impracticality
- Romanticism (in the sense of unrealistic idealism)
- Utopianism
- Chivalry (when used in an anachronistic or impractical context)
Antonyms
- Pragmatism
- Realism
- Cynicism
- Practicality
Idioms and Related Phrases
- Tilting at windmills: This idiom, derived directly from the story of Don Quixote, is a direct expression of quixotism. It means attacking imaginary enemies or fighting futile battles.
- In arguing for the complete abolition of taxes, he is merely tilting at windmills.
- A Don Quixote: Used as a noun to describe a person who exhibits quixotism.
- He was a Don Quixote, forever championing lost causes.
Noun
- quixotic (romantic and impractical) behavior