Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective quixotic contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of quixotic are chimerical, fanciful, fantastic, imaginary, and visionary. While all these words mean "unreal or unbelievable," quixotic implies a devotion to romantic or chivalrous ideals unrestrained by ordinary prudence and common sense.

a quixotic crusade

How does the word chimerical relate to other synonyms for quixotic?

Chimerical combines the implication of visionary and fantastic.

chimerical dreams of future progress

When can fanciful be used instead of quixotic?

The words fanciful and quixotic can be used in similar contexts, but fanciful suggests the free play of the imagination.

a teller of fanciful stories

When would fantastic be a good substitute for quixotic?

While the synonyms fantastic and quixotic are close in meaning, fantastic implies incredibility or strangeness beyond belief.

a fantastic world inhabited by monsters

When is imaginary a more appropriate choice than quixotic?

The meanings of imaginary and quixotic largely overlap; however, imaginary applies to something which is fictitious and purely the product of one's imagination.

an imaginary desert isle

When is it sensible to use visionary instead of quixotic?

While in some cases nearly identical to quixotic, visionary stresses impracticality or incapability of realization.

visionary schemes

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 quixotic What sets Netflix Spain apart from most of the U.S. streamer’s international operations is its ambition, based not on quixotic dreams of grandeur but on the record-breaking first decade of generating key titles which perform well on home ground but break out spectacularly abroad. John Hopewell, Variety, 16 June 2025 That’s a good question on many levels, especially since Walters (played by Charlie McCullagh) persuaded his wife, Carol (Evelyn Hoskins, in a dominant performance), and his best pal, Ron (Akron Watson), to fund and back his quixotic quest, despite its obvious risks to life and limb. Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2025 Yet somehow, Riverton residents never seemed to grow tired of what looked to many outsiders like a quixotic scheme. Megan Greenwell, The Atlantic, 9 June 2025 The paintings and songs also poke fun at the tradition of polling—this quixotic attempt to distill the desires of millions into tidy figures. Literary Hub, 4 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for quixotic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quixotic
Adjective
  • However, after Paul and Alex began a romantic relationship, the deal is put into question, while the billionaire's past and his intentions also came under doubt.
    Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 9 July 2025
  • The coming-of-age romantic television series based on the popular book trilogy of the same name by Jenny Han will premiere on Amazon Prime Video next week.
    Kaycee Sloan, The Enquirer, 9 July 2025
Adjective
  • Aside from being impractical, the new importation strategy would leave America’s drug supply vulnerable to dangerous counterfeit medicines from abroad.
    Sally C. Pipes, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2025
  • However, for many travelers who take only one or two flights a year, that's impractical advice.
    Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 11 July 2025
Adjective
  • Exhibiting an eclectic array of academic excellence, robust pursuit of agricultural and STEM innovations, and idealistic ambitions, they are headed to prestigious universities, including CalTech, Cornell, MIT, Northwestern, and Cal Poly.
    News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 July 2025
  • From an idealistic kid to a ‘police officer in reverse’ Slosar is the product of the brief union of a couple who married too young, according to his mother.
    Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
Adjective
  • People always wanted more-more-more from Sly, based on the utopian promises of his songs.
    Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 10 June 2025
  • That all sounds very woolly and, in a way, utopian.
    Kevin Giraud, Variety, 10 June 2025
Adjective
  • This, in turn, becomes logically reliant on the idealist paradigm of Consciousness as the fundamental lowest common denominator of reality.
    Carlo Tortora Brayda, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Labour leader Starmer, though, has taken a realist rather than an idealist approach to the president, putting Britain's foreign policy interests above the strong opposition to Trump in the rank and file of his own party.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Quixotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quixotic. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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