ideal

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adjective

ide·al ī-ˈdē(-ə)l

ˈī-ˌdē(-ə)l

Synonyms of ideal next

: of, relating to, or embodying an ideal

ideal beauty

: conforming exactly to an ideal, law, or standard : perfect

an ideal gas

compare real sense 1c(4)

: existing as a mental image or in fancy or imagination only

broadly : lacking practicality

: relating to or constituting mental images, ideas, or conceptions

: of or relating to philosophical idealism

: existing as an archetypal idea

ideal

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noun

: a standard of perfection, beauty, or excellence

: one regarded as exemplifying an ideal and often taken as a model for imitation

: an ultimate object or aim of endeavor : goal

: a subset of a mathematical ring that is closed under addition and subtraction and contains the products of any given element of the subset with each element of the ring

idealless

ī-ˈdē(-ə)l-ləs

adjective

Choose the Right Synonym for ideal

model, example, pattern, exemplar, ideal mean someone or something set before one for guidance or imitation.

model applies to something taken or proposed as worthy of imitation.

a decor that is a model of good taste

example applies to a person to be imitated or in some contexts on no account to be imitated but to be regarded as a warning.

children tend to follow the example of their parents

pattern suggests a clear and detailed archetype or prototype.

American industry set a pattern for others to follow

exemplar suggests either a faultless example to be emulated or a perfect typification.

cited Joan of Arc as the exemplar of courage

ideal implies the best possible exemplification either in reality or in conception.

never found a job that matched his ideal

Example Sentences

Adjective It was an ideal spot for a vacation. She is an ideal candidate for the job. The conference provided us with an ideal opportunity to meet new people. Noun an ideal of romantic love He hasn't lived up to his high ideals. She considers the actress her ideal. See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The beef at Budacki’s is ideal for people who prefer not to have their mouth set aflame with spice. —

Ximena N. Beltran Quan Kiu, Bon Appétit, 16 June 2023 But their timing wasn’t ideal, and the next six months would be more difficult than the Yoodlize team had expected. —

Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 16 June 2023 Faucet: Pillar with Ascot Handle; sigmafaucet.com. 07 The View With a wall of large windows, the kitchen's breakfast nook is an ideal bird-watching spot. —

Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 15 June 2023 During an interview with Extra, McGregor shared details about what his ideal day would look like. —

Jacklyn Krol, Peoplemag, 15 June 2023 Varieties to try: Oso Easy Paprika, Pink Drift SHOP NOW Black-eyed Susan These gold flowers with brown or black button centers are ideal for fall gardens. —

Taylor Augustin, House Beautiful, 14 June 2023 Perfect for capturing those candid moments and extra special events, the pocket-sized, single-use camera is ideal for almost any occasion, from birthdays to vacations to weddings. —

Lauren Breedlove, Travel + Leisure, 14 June 2023 The moon and Jupiter’s alignment is an ideal time to pool your resources with another’s! —

USA TODAY, 14 June 2023 Though a watering can is ideal for smaller setups, garden hoses are handy tools for quickly and thoroughly watering garden beds as well as potted plants. —

Jamie Weissman, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 June 2023

Noun

Reform Judaism is based on the idea that both the Bible and the laws of the oral Torah are divinely inspired, but humanly constructed, meaning they should be adapted based on contemporary moral ideals. —

Joshua Shanes, The Conversation, 15 June 2023 Freetown, as the new colony was called, didn’t evolve into the egalitarian, self-governing ideal Sharp had envisioned. —

Francine Uenuma, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 June 2023 While our sleek, direct-to-consumer style once glorified both the grind and the future, fashion has gone back to a more leisurely, retro ideal where try-hards are definitely not welcome. —

Véronique Hyland, ELLE, 13 June 2023 Its ideals stemmed from a master's thesis Bill Gothard wrote at Wheaton College in Illinois. —

Olivia Evans, Women's Health, 10 June 2023 It was formerly named the ‘Zale Light of Peace’ to promote the company’s philanthropic ideals. —

Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 8 June 2023 That move quickly led to the formation of the Christian Coalition, a powerful political lobbying organization that advocates for socially conservative Christian ideals. —

Kyler Alvord, Peoplemag, 8 June 2023 People under the age of 21 and arrested for taking part in the 2019 protests are being subjected to a prison deradicalization program aimed at suppressing their political ideals HONG KONG — The day begins with goose-stepping. —

Shibani Mahtani, Washington Post, 8 June 2023 There are many everyday tools from the shed or toolbox ideal for eliminating stinknet. —

Aidan Wohl, The Arizona Republic, 7 June 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ideal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.