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
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. 2019 Daytonians who struggled after they were laid off from GM rejoice when they are rehired by the new company, but soon find that their expectations about labor practices and corporate culture clash with the new management’s ideals. — Alissa Wilkinson, Vox, "American Factory, the first film in the Obamas’ Netflix slate, is one of the year’s best docs," 20 Aug. 2019 Why is aid needed to back Lady Liberty’s ideals now? — Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, "Letter: Why is aid needed to back Lady Liberty’s ideals now?," 19 Aug. 2019 Researchers are still debating what is the ideal starting cell type for regenerative medicine. — Tobias Deuse, The Conversation, "Stem cells could regenerate organs – but only if the body won’t reject them," 19 Aug. 2019 West said that his experience would be an asset in the U.S. Senate if he's elected and that his long record makes him someone who would fight for the ideals Democrats care about. — Paul Cobler, Dallas News, "Royce West touts political experience for Senate primary in appeal to Dallas Democrats," 14 Aug. 2019 Feeney kept Floral Street’s prices accessible on purpose, with the ideal that fans could afford multiple fragrances to match their multiple moods. — Leah Prinzivalli, Allure, "Floral Street, an Affordable, Vegan Fragrance Brand, Is Now Sold at Sephora," 13 Aug. 2019 In the canon of women’s self-improvement, the French-girl ideal—the most persistent and prescriptive of the fantasies—is always just one pouty red lip, a marinière, and a pair of skinny jeans away from becoming real. — Lindsey Tramuta, Glamour, "These Women Are Redefining What It Means to Have ‘Parisian Style’," 26 July 2019 Both Federer and Nadal are superstars beloved for the sporting ideals their respective games epitomize: the elegance and precision of Federer’s classic style of attacking tennis, the grit and ferocity of Nadal’s power-baseline game. — Kevin Craft, The Atlantic, "Novak Djokovic Is the Greatest Player of the ‘Big Three’," 14 July 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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