visionary 1 of 2

Definition of visionarynext
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visionary

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noun

1
as in diviner
one who predicts future events or developments according to Greek myth, Cassandra was a visionary who was endowed with the gift of inerrant prophecy but fated to never be believed

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in dreamer
one whose conduct is guided more by the image of perfection than by the real world 19th-century visionaries who founded short-lived communities in which everyone was supposed to live in perfect peace and harmony

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective visionary contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of visionary are chimerical, fanciful, fantastic, imaginary, and quixotic. While all these words mean "unreal or unbelievable," visionary stresses impracticality or incapability of realization.

visionary schemes

How is chimerical related to other words for visionary?

Chimerical combines the implication of visionary and fantastic.

chimerical dreams of future progress

When might fanciful be a better fit than visionary?

In some situations, the words fanciful and visionary are roughly equivalent. However, fanciful suggests the free play of the imagination.

a teller of fanciful stories

When can fantastic be used instead of visionary?

The meanings of fantastic and visionary largely overlap; however, fantastic implies incredibility or strangeness beyond belief.

a fantastic world inhabited by monsters

When is imaginary a more appropriate choice than visionary?

Although the words imaginary and visionary have much in common, imaginary applies to something which is fictitious and purely the product of one's imagination.

an imaginary desert isle

When could quixotic be used to replace visionary?

While in some cases nearly identical to visionary, quixotic implies a devotion to romantic or chivalrous ideals unrestrained by ordinary prudence and common sense.

a quixotic crusade

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of visionary
Adjective
Sadly, yet triumphantly, this marks one of Michael Madsen’s final films, within a story uniquely told by visionary director Brendan Murphy, a recent recipient of the Tim Burton Visionary Award. Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 5 Feb. 2026 Collapsing art, science, paranormal phenomena, and ritual, SORRAT expands Neihardt’s search for visionary truth via poetry and experimentation. Shannon Taggart, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
Noun
Those great ’70s movies grew out of the desperation and dysfunction of the studio system at the time, which opened the door to visionaries with something to say (and, sometimes, a ridiculously high budget to say it with). Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026 A lot of companies are still trying to retrofit AI into existing workflows, while the genuine visionaries are redesigning entire workflows with AI as the foundation. Mark Minevich, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for visionary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for visionary
Adjective
  • Now, Kardashian—a reality star and business mogul—and Hamilton, a pro F1 driver, have not confirmed any sort of relationship just yet, but the duo are rumored to have begun dating earlier this year, when they were spotted enjoying a romantic getaway at the Estelle Manor in the Cotswolds.
    Christian Allaire, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2026
  • In this drama series, two friends recently divorced and widowed explore their new single lives with teenage children while questioning the possibility of a romantic future.
    Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The difference between documentary approaches and fictional approaches to a musical figure — at heart, there’s no difference at all.
    Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
  • But in a first for Marvel, Abdul-Mateen II was not there as himself, but rather in character as Simon Williams to discuss the fictional Wonder Man movie that is central to season one of the Disney+ show.
    Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Be cautious about taking on new debt that assumes your current income is guaranteed.
    Matt Shumer, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Connecticut education leaders are expressing cautious optimism as the state Department of Education tries its hand at course development.
    Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 11 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • While often presented as the act of using beauty practices to manifest your desires, diviner and spiritual wellness teacher Tatianna Tarot would caution against getting too attached to semantics.
    Essence, Essence, 23 Nov. 2025
  • That spells trouble in the Indo-Pacific, a watery region where military leaders and Beltway diviners believe a war over Taiwan could erupt as soon as 2027.
    Colin Demarest, Axios, 8 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • But today there’s something refreshingly unusual about electronic music so unabashedly idealistic, something that declines to submit to reality and instead goes searching for some far-off nirvana, finding connections to other dreamers on the way.
    Alex Robert Ross, Pitchfork, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Their journeys to the Olympics are more than anything immigrant stories, the odysseys of two families of dreamers who settled in the South Bay, Chloe Kim’s family in Torrance, Bea Kim’s on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
    Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Along with complaints about the building’s size, the Geffen Galleries’ heavy use of concrete had been criticized as an impractical choice for hanging art.
    Malia Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Erdoğan’s speeches are full of practical advice about how to destroy the left, such as calling progressives lazy, impractical alcoholics funded by globalist lobbies and contrasting the efficiency of an imperial president with the messiness of parliamentary policymaking.
    Kaya Genç, The Dial, 3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The series follows a teenage boy who forms an unlikely alliance with the Fairy Queen of Celtic lore to search for malevolent mythical creatures from around the world, among them the Yeti, Baba Yaga and a Lady Dracula — not to destroy them, but to save them from impending doom.
    Ed Meza, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Jones portrays the fierce warrior Prince Vlad of Wallachia, who goes on to become the mythical Dracula.
    Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 14 Feb. 2026
  • As with any sauce, be careful not to over-reduce.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Visionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/visionary. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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