VISIONARY Synonyms: 192 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: How is 'chimerical' related to other words for 'visionary'?

Chimerical combines the implication of visionary and fantastic . // chimerical dreams of future progress

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

visionary 1 of 2

adjective

ˈvi-zhə-ˌner-ē

Definition of visionary next

as in romantic

having or marked by a tendency to be guided more by ideals than by reality a visionary plan for a manned flight to Mars even though there are pressing problems right here on earth

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in mythic

not real and existing only in the imagination one of several Christian saints who claimed to have had visionary experiences of hell

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in cautious

having or showing awareness of and preparation for the future in a visionary move, the developer bought large tracts of the waterfront just before property values skyrocketed

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

visionary

2 of 2

noun

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

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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

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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

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Recent Examples of visionary

Adjective

However, the Gemini moon on Jan. 11 adds an insightful element from its astrological connection to visionary Neptune. —

Lisa Stardust, People.com, 11 Jan. 2025 Directed by visionary stop-motion artist Tomoki Misato, the series will launch on Netflix in July. —

Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Jan. 2025

Noun

What follows is a high stakes battle between tradition and innovation, as Jan’s visionary ideas clash with his siblings conservative approach. —

Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 21 Jan. 2025 Once settled in unfamiliar Pennsylvania and awaiting the arrival of his wife Erzsébet (Jones), the visionary is spotted by a wealthy industrialist (Guy Pearce). —

Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 20 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for visionary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for visionary

Adjective

As with the best films of its type, Companion works on more than a surface B-movie level, providing sly satirical commentary about power dynamics in romantic relationships to which more than a few audience members will be able to relate.

— Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Jan. 2025
Bell Book & Candle Indulge in a romantic four-course dinner in the West Village.

— Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025