ideal
adjective
, ˈī-ˌdē(-ə)l\
Definition of ideal
(Entry 1 of 2)
ideal
nounDefinition of ideal (Entry 2 of 2)
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Other Words from ideal
Noun
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adjective
Synonyms & Antonyms for ideal
Synonyms: Adjective
abstract, conceptual, ideational, metaphysical, notional, theoretical (also theoretic)
Synonyms: Noun
beau ideal, classic, eidolon, exemplar, idea, model, nonesuch, nonpareil, paragon, patron saint
Antonyms: Adjective
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Examples of ideal in a Sentence
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.
Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
The ideal collaborator came in the form of How to Dress Well's Tom Krell who served as the EP's producer. — Janelle Okwodu, Vogue, "How Sasha Belyaeva Went From Muse to Musician," 23 Aug. 2019 So in general, for your tummy’s sake, the ideal nighttime snack is going to be smaller, milder, lower in fat and fiber, and eaten a couple hours before bed. — Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, "Is Late-Night Snacking Really So Wrong?," 23 Aug. 2019 Early November is an ideal time to focus on finances and career, while your shrewdness about business matters is at a peak. — Tribune Content Agency, oregonlive.com, "Horoscope for Aug. 23, 2019: Gemini, speak from your heart; Capricorn, think about making key changes," 23 Aug. 2019 The quote is from a 2017 Elba appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden where Elba described his ideal date. — Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, "Taylor Swift's 'Lover' Album Features Idris Elba Cameo," 23 Aug. 2019 According to a report from venerable French publication L'Equipe, the German champions had long seen Roca as an ideal player to plug any midfield gaps, and once the sale of Sanches was beyond doubt there was only one man to fill the space. — SI.com, "Report: Bayern Munich Agrees to Pay Release Clause for Espanyol Midfielder Marc Roca," 23 Aug. 2019 The ideal weather — sunny and 70s — brought attendance-breaking crowds to the Fairgrounds, making opening day feel more like a busy State Fair weekend. — John Autey, Twin Cities, "Opening day of the State Fair draws huge crowds," 22 Aug. 2019 The tiny hobbit homes are ideal spots for some serious backyard glamping—and also the perfect size to use as a child's playhouse. — Elizabeth Gulino, House Beautiful, "You Can Buy Your Own Custom-Made Hobbit Home on Etsy That Rivals Those in the Shire," 22 Aug. 2019 For those who enjoy the slopes, this is the ideal residence. — Kelli Williams, The Denver Post, "Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own stunning new construction at the base of Vail Mountain," 22 Aug. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Manganiello’s Sonny personifies a boyhood ideal: the athletic apotheosis of casual working-class masculinity. — Armond White, National Review, "Bottom of the 9th: Sympathy for the Underdog," 6 Sep. 2019 The brand has been criticized for being out of touch with women and modern beauty ideals. — Sapna Maheshwari, New York Times, "Victoria’s Secret Had Troubles, Even Before Jeffrey Epstein," 6 Sep. 2019 Her recent short film RedefinePretty helps prove how damaging beauty standards can be by examining the brain’s emotional reactions to images of faces that enforce or defy such ideals. — Hana Hong, Marie Claire, "25 People Changing the Beauty Industry," 3 Sep. 2019 Democratic ideals dictate that both require public oversight, transparency and accountability. — Scientific American, "How Misinformation Spreads—and Why We Trust It," 3 Sep. 2019 For that kind of math, the icosahedron was the ideal random number generator. — William Herkewitz, Popular Mechanics, "Why D&D Modernized Its Magic for a New Generation of Fantasy," 1 Sep. 2019 This home and guesthouse enjoy an expansive park-like backyard ideal for entertaining on any level, play and quiet leisure. — Monica Lander, The Mercury News, "Sponsored: These properties blend San Jose’s roots with its Silicon Valley future," 27 Aug. 2019 Freedom from Western beauty ideals and freedom from the stresses of work. — Anchorage Daily News, "Podcaster brings millennial Native voices to airwaves," 28 July 2019 The network, led by the nonprofit Americans for Prosperity, has spent more than $1 billion over the past several elections to support candidates that adhere to their free-market, small government libertarian ideals. — NBC News, "David Koch, billionaire conservative activist and philanthropist, dies at 79," 23 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ideal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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