Synonyms for ideal
- adjective
- noun
Synonyms by meaning
Adjective
1. Fancied — pertaining to ideas, or to a given idea
fancied, fanciful, abstract, notional, utopian, unreal, chimerical, illusory, conceptual, fictitious, visionary, speculative, supposititious dated
3. Absolute
absolute, pure, pyore US, flawless, immaculate, faultless, consummate
Other
imaginary, idealistic, lack-life, storybooklike rare
Noun
1. Model
model, standard, example, archetype, original, apotheosis, paragon, pattern, prototype, nonpareil, saint, nonesuch
Other
Definitions
- adj. 1
Pertaining to ideas, or to a given idea.
- adj. 2
Optimal; being the best possibility.
- adj. 3
Existing only in the mind; conceptual, imaginary.
- n. 1
A perfect standard of beauty, intellect etc., or a standard of excellence to aim at.
Related words
Forms
- Plural
- ideals → models, standards, examples, archetypes…
Choose the right word
This high sense has nearly disappeared from the word idea, and has been largely appropriated by ideal, tho something of the original meaning still appears when in theological or philosophical language we speak of the ideas of God.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- utopian To live in a perfect world is just a utopian dream.
- perfect A sunny weekend is perfect for a mountain getaway.
- optimal Get a good night's sleep for optimal productivity.
- absolute It's an absolute waste of time to wait any longer.
- idealistic Tom isn't as idealistic as Mary.
By length
- 4 letters
- best1, pure1
- 5 letters
- model2, saint1, pyore
- 6 letters
- unreal2
- 7 letters
- example3, perfect2, pattern2, optimal3, optimum3, fancied2, utopian4, paragon3
- 8 letters
- original4, standard2, absolute3, abstract2, flawless2, fanciful3, illusory4, notional3, nonesuch2
- 9 letters
- imaginary5, prototype3, visionary4, archetype3, yardstick2, faultless, nonpareil
- 10 letters
- conceptual4, immaculate4, fictitious3, idealistic5, consummate3, apotheosis5, chimerical4
- 11 letters
- speculative4
- 13 letters
- storybooklike
- 14 letters
- supposititious
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (model2 = 2 syllables).