as in optimism
the attitude of a person who believes that it is possible to live according to very high standards of behavior and honesty
youthful idealism romantic idealism
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Recent Examples of idealism
As Michael moves into solo stardom and makes cunning business moves, the film captures how his seemingly naive idealism was also a form of ambition.
—
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026
Gone is idealism; in its place, lived experience.
—Brendan Hay, SPIN, 21 Apr. 2026
In Claude—a wayward young man whom everyone nonetheless finds promising—Louise sees a vessel for her remaining idealism.
—Brandy Jensen, New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2026
Mclusky were always rooted more in bile than hormones, contempt and wit over quick-burn idealism.
—Alex Robert Ross, Pitchfork, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for idealism
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026
Gone is idealism; in its place, lived experience.
—Brendan Hay, SPIN, 21 Apr. 2026
In Claude—a wayward young man whom everyone nonetheless finds promising—Louise sees a vessel for her remaining idealism.
—Brandy Jensen, New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2026
Mclusky were always rooted more in bile than hormones, contempt and wit over quick-burn idealism.
—Alex Robert Ross, Pitchfork, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for idealism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idealism
Noun
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Trump had expressed optimism to the Washington Examiner about seeing the bill on his desk this week.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
20 May 2026
-
Investors certainly have plenty of reasons for optimism in an economy soaked with AI cash.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
20 May 2026
Noun
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The company has built its identity around taking AI safety more seriously than its rivals, creating sky-high expectations for model security that jar with its apparent carelessness; the fact that Mythos was exposed through such a basic and predictable failure only underscores that.—
Robert Hart,
The Verge,
23 Apr. 2026
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Most bark problems come from carelessness from mowing or weed-eating too close to the tree, stripping off the bark and allowing entry.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Seydoux asks me in a moment of frankness.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
18 May 2026
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Her love for the city is palpable, imbued with her frankness, her fun, her queerness, and her history.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The simpleness of the look really allowed the Crocs to stand out and make an impression.—
Tara Larson,
Footwear News,
14 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The childishness of his expressions infantilized a genuinely vicious regime, painting it as more peevish than petrifying.—
Fintan O’Toole,
The New York Review of Books,
9 Apr. 2026
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The actor relishes all aspects of Dahl’s childishness, and the humanity within the beast emerges in small moments.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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On the ceiling, a suede Scalamandré wallcovering delivers the sensory impact of leather—without the impracticality.—
Kathryn O’Shea-Evans,
Robb Report,
29 Mar. 2026
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Our current system denies new talent a livelihood, and the impracticality of such training, leads me to refrain from training them.—
Ted Hope,
IndieWire,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
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His sincerity is real, his appreciation – for his fans, his band, his crew – is frequently spoken and his music is a continuous Choose Your Own Adventure game.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
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In an age of global political unrest, a news cycle saturated with mass shootings and gun violence on the streets of America, sincerity feels like a relief.—
Sarah Wang,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
Noun
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Gilbert’s colloquial style, once a source of great pleasure, has tipped into new territory—an ingenuousness that blends guru and disciple, mother and child.—
Jia Tolentino,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Idealism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idealism. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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