as in romantic
having or marked by a tendency to be guided more by ideals than by reality
the starry-eyed notion that international sports competitions actually help foster global harmony
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Recent Examples of starry-eyed
It had supposedly been made in the nineteen-forties, for an Italian countess or an English lady, then scrapped, and afterward either smuggled out of the workroom by a starry-eyed seamstress or, with the atelier head’s approval, given to one of the in-house models.
—
Han Ong, New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2026
On Tuesday night, as the NFL world reeled with the Maxx Crosby news and the NBA was starry-eyed at Bam Adebayo’s 83-point game, the rest of us were watching Team Italy embarrass the good ol’ US of A with an 8-6 win in the World Baseball Classic.
—Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
But Sexistential, released in March, pushes in the opposite direction, toward starry-eyed excess and abandon.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
The film’s plot is thrust in motion when a series of perverse scam calls unsettles an idyllic retirement community, watching as a starry-eyed nurse (Cemre Paksoy) becomes entangled with her mysterious patient (Bruce McKenzie).
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 3 Mar. 2026
Jasmine January gives a sweet, starry-eyed performance as Rosemary, the ever-patient secretary who loves Finch despite his indifference to her feelings.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
Carrie Underwood will once again be seated at the judges’ table, having joined the cast in 2025 when Katy Perry signed off after seven seasons, as starry-eyed hopefuls compete for a $250,000 prize and a chance at a recording contract.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Neither will starry-eyed dreams of Venezuelan oil profits.
—Jamie Holmes, Twin Cities, 22 Jan. 2026
This time around, Lily Collins' starry-eyed striver is setting up shop in Rome.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Dec. 2025
Han Ong, New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2026
On Tuesday night, as the NFL world reeled with the Maxx Crosby news and the NBA was starry-eyed at Bam Adebayo’s 83-point game, the rest of us were watching Team Italy embarrass the good ol’ US of A with an 8-6 win in the World Baseball Classic.
—Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
But Sexistential, released in March, pushes in the opposite direction, toward starry-eyed excess and abandon.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
The film’s plot is thrust in motion when a series of perverse scam calls unsettles an idyllic retirement community, watching as a starry-eyed nurse (Cemre Paksoy) becomes entangled with her mysterious patient (Bruce McKenzie).
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 3 Mar. 2026
Jasmine January gives a sweet, starry-eyed performance as Rosemary, the ever-patient secretary who loves Finch despite his indifference to her feelings.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
Carrie Underwood will once again be seated at the judges’ table, having joined the cast in 2025 when Katy Perry signed off after seven seasons, as starry-eyed hopefuls compete for a $250,000 prize and a chance at a recording contract.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Neither will starry-eyed dreams of Venezuelan oil profits.
—Jamie Holmes, Twin Cities, 22 Jan. 2026
This time around, Lily Collins' starry-eyed striver is setting up shop in Rome.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for starry-eyed
Adjective
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Universal’s romantic drama, based on Colleen Hoover’s novel of the same name, has grossed $45 million in North America and $79 million globally against a $25 million budget.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
5 Apr. 2026
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In honor of their fourth wedding anniversary, the couple—who had a secret wedding ceremony in April 2022—enjoyed a romantic dinner date at Bourbon Steak New York in New York City.—
Chanel Vargas,
InStyle,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But the brief, costly, impractical service still became one of the most romanticized episodes in American history—a legacy wildly disproportionate to its lifespan.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 Apr. 2026
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The creator notes the concept suits cabins, RVs, and off-grid structures particularly well — anywhere grid ties are impractical or expensive.—
Munis Raza,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Les' idealistic vision is to use this breakthrough for the good of humanity.—
Sarah Rodman,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Mar. 2026
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Of funny, idealistic, scary-smart workaholics — coming up on three generations of them — who want to make things better by making things better.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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But there will be no stopping progress, only a utopian, Fairey-like hope that those who come will be inspired to keep and nurture the magical qualities of the place.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
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The duo’s follow-up project Los Frikis, a drama based on true events about group of punk rockers in ’90s Cuba who cultivate a utopian refuge from society after deliberately infecting themselves with HIV, was similarly lauded.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Starry-eyed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/starry-eyed. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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