as in dream
a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality
opening our own restaurant has long been a pipe dream
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Recent Examples of pipe dream
Some skeptics view the idea as a pipe dream in tough fiscal times when the federal government is spending billions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the war in Iran.
—
Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 8 Mar. 2026
When Koy was moving up the comedy ranks under his real name Joseph Glenn Herbert, the thought of calling himself a comedian felt like a pipe dream.
—Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
At this point, making the playoffs outright is a pipe dream for the Trail Blazers.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
But again, Messi to MLS was once a pipe dream.
—Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pipe dream
Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 8 Mar. 2026
When Koy was moving up the comedy ranks under his real name Joseph Glenn Herbert, the thought of calling himself a comedian felt like a pipe dream.
—Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
At this point, making the playoffs outright is a pipe dream for the Trail Blazers.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
But again, Messi to MLS was once a pipe dream.
—Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pipe dream
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pipe dream
Noun
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For travelers with an adventurous spirit, Costa Rica’s South Pacific is a dream come true.—
Meghan Palmer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Mar. 2026
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But what was once a distant dream is now coming true for more and more authors, all up and down the ladder of literary fame and prestige.—
Leah Asmelash,
CNN Money,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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More than a month into open confrontation between Iran, the United States, Israel, and now parts of the Arab Gulf, the illusion of a quick and decisive conflict has collapsed.—
Kazem Kazerounian,
Hartford Courant,
1 Apr. 2026
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The next mayor will inherit an enormous burden on Day 1 with no room for illusions.—
Bill Conway,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The family car is a Mazda, but Zac daydreams of a Bugatti Veyron.—
Frank Langfitt,
NPR,
4 Apr. 2026
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More than masturbatory daydreams, Vladimir inspires our heroine to write with abandon, ignoring professional and personal obligations in service to her muse.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Attempts to resolve ecological responsibility through strict localism often risk sliding into cultural provincialism or nationalist enclosure—fantasies of purity that ignore how deeply entangled our lives already are.—
Manuela Moscoso,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
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Daily fantasy sports players draft rosters of athletes competing that day, stake money and win cash prizes based on the athletes’ real-life performances.—
Michael Delayo,
The Conversation,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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One in four children has vision problems that directly impact academic performance, according to the American Optometric Association.—
Christina Mayo,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
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That vision of worldwide economic and cultural interdependence that enabled the proliferation of biennials in the ’90s has been steadily eroding amid the recent rise in nativism and far-right movements in the United States and Europe.—
Smooth Nzewi,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pipe dream.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pipe%20dream. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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