Ideals — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˌbō-ī-ˈdē(-ə)l/

Meaning & Definition of Ideals

Ideals (noun)

  1. a standard of perfection, beauty, or excellence
  2. one regarded as exemplifying an ideal and often taken as a model for imitation
  3. an ultimate object or aim of endeavor, goal
  4. the perfect type or model
  5. the standards, ideals, and ambitions that according to psychoanalytic theory are assimilated from the superego

Ideals (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation

    "she's our ideal of the concerned, caring physician"

    similar: beau ideals, classics, eidolons, exemplars, ideas, models, nonesuches, nonpareils, paragons, patron saints
    related: role models, embodiments, epitomes, incarnations, manifestations, personifications, phantoms, pinks, archetypes, examples, mirrors, paradigms, patterns, guidelines, principles, rules, gauges, standards, touchstones, essences, quintessences, acmes, apexes, apotheoses, culminations, peaks, pinnacles, summits, zeniths

  2. the most perfect type or example

    "the Taj Mahal in India is generally regarded as the ideal of Mogul architectural beauty"

    similar: acmes, apotheoses, beau ideals, bywords, classics, epitomes, exemplars, perfections, quintessences
    related: archetypes, models, prototypes, paradigms, standards, nonpareils, paragons, abstracts, avatars, embodiers, embodiments, incarnations, incorporations, manifestations, personifications, heights, last words, meridians, ultimates, zeniths, benchmarks, criteria, touchstones, yardsticks

  3. something that one hopes or intends to accomplish

    "his ideal is to make enough money so that he can retire at 50"

    similar: aims, ambitions, aspirations, bournes, designs, dreams, ends, goals, ideas, intentions, intents, marks, meanings, objectives, objects, plans, points, pretensions, purposes, targets, things
    related: grails, holy grails, plots, projects, schemes, desires, hopes, minds, wishes, nirvanas, destinations, termini
    near: means, methods, ways

Related Entry: Ideal (noun)

Ideal is a different word from Ideals. The synonyms below are for ideal, not for ideals.

  1. someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation

    "she's our ideal of the concerned, caring physician"

    similar: beau ideal, classic, eidolon, exemplar, idea, model, nonesuch, nonpareil, paragon, patron saint
    related: role model, embodiment, epitome, incarnation, manifestation, personification, phantom, pink, archetype, example, mirror, paradigm, pattern, guideline, principle, rule, gauge, standard, touchstone, essence, quintessence, acme, apex, apotheosis, culmination, peak, pinnacle, summit, zenith

  2. the most perfect type or example

    "the Taj Mahal in India is generally regarded as the ideal of Mogul architectural beauty"

    similar: acme, apotheosis, beau ideal, byword, classic, epitome, exemplar, perfection, quintessence
    related: archetype, model, prototype, paradigm, standard, nonpareil, paragon, abstract, avatar, embodier, embodiment, incarnation, incorporation, manifestation, personification, height, last word, meridian, ultimate, zenith, benchmark, criterion, touchstone, yardstick

  3. something that one hopes or intends to accomplish

    "his ideal is to make enough money so that he can retire at 50"

    similar: aim, ambition, aspiration, bourne, design, dream, end, goal, idea, intent, intention, mark, meaning, object, objective, plan, point, pretension, purpose, target, thing, name of the game
    related: grail, holy grail, plot, project, scheme, desire, hope, mind, wish, nirvana, destination, terminus
    near: means, method, way

Related Entry: Beau ideals (noun)

Beau ideals is a different word from Ideals. The synonyms below are for beau ideals, not for ideals.

  1. someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation

    "she is the beau ideal of the dedicated medical professional"

    similar: classics, eidolons, exemplars, ideals, ideas, models, nonesuches, nonpareils, paragons, patron saints
    related: role models, embodiments, epitomes, incarnations, manifestations, personifications, phantoms, pinks, archetypes, examples, mirrors, paradigms, patterns, guidelines, principles, rules, gauges, standards, touchstones, essences, quintessences, acmes, apexes, apotheoses, culminations, peaks, pinnacles, summits, zeniths

  2. the most perfect type or example

    "Frank Lloyd Wright's most famous architectural creation, Falling Water, is widely regarded as the beau ideal of a building in harmony with its setting"

    similar: acmes, apotheoses, bywords, classics, epitomes, exemplars, ideals, perfections, quintessences
    related: archetypes, models, prototypes, paradigms, standards, nonpareils, paragons, abstracts, avatars, embodiers, embodiments, incarnations, incorporations, manifestations, personifications, heights, last words, meridians, ultimates, zeniths, benchmarks, criteria, touchstones, yardsticks

Related Entry: Beau ideal (noun)

Beau ideal is a different word from Ideals. The synonyms below are for beau ideal, not for ideals.

  1. someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation

    "she is the beau ideal of the dedicated medical professional"

    similar: classic, eidolon, exemplar, idea, ideal, model, nonesuch, nonpareil, paragon, patron saint
    related: role model, embodiment, epitome, incarnation, manifestation, personification, phantom, pink, archetype, example, mirror, paradigm, pattern, guideline, principle, rule, gauge, standard, touchstone, essence, quintessence, acme, apex, apotheosis, culmination, peak, pinnacle, summit, zenith

  2. the most perfect type or example

    "Frank Lloyd Wright's most famous architectural creation, Falling Water, is widely regarded as the beau ideal of a building in harmony with its setting"

    similar: acme, apotheosis, byword, classic, epitome, exemplar, ideal, perfection, quintessence
    related: archetype, model, prototype, paradigm, standard, nonpareil, paragon, abstract, avatar, embodier, embodiment, incarnation, incorporation, manifestation, personification, height, last word, meridian, ultimate, zenith, benchmark, criterion, touchstone, yardstick

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Ideals

The most common words with a similar meaning to Ideals:

beau ideals, classics, eidolons, exemplars, ideas, models, nonesuches, nonpareils, paragons, patron saints, acmes, apotheoses, bywords, epitomes, perfections, quintessences, aims, ambitions, aspirations, bournes, designs, dreams, ends, goals, intentions, intents, marks, meanings, objectives, objects, plans, points, pretensions, purposes, targets, things

Related Words for Ideals

role models, embodiments, incarnations, manifestations, personifications, phantoms, pinks, archetypes, examples, mirrors, paradigms, patterns, guidelines, principles, rules, gauges, standards, touchstones, essences, apexes, culminations, peaks, pinnacles, summits, zeniths, prototypes, abstracts, avatars, embodiers, incorporations

Near Antonyms of Ideals

means, methods, ways

Word Forms of Ideals

Inflections: beau ideals

Derived words: idealless (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Ideals

French beau idéal ideal beauty

First known use: 15th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Ideals

What does "Ideals" mean?

"Ideals" means a standard of perfection, beauty, or excellence. As a noun, it is defined as: a standard of perfection, beauty, or excellence. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Ideals"?

Other words for "Ideals" include beau ideals, classics, eidolons, exemplars, ideas, models, nonesuches and nonpareils. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Ideals" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Ideals"?

There are 85 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Ideals". Common alternatives include beau ideals, classics, eidolons, exemplars, ideas, models, nonesuches, nonpareils, paragons and patron saints.

How do you use "Ideals" in a sentence?

Examples of "Ideals" in a sentence: "she's our ideal of the concerned, caring physician"; "the Taj Mahal in India is generally regarded as the ideal of Mogul architectural beauty"; "his ideal is to make enough money so that he can retire at 50".

Is "Ideals" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Ideals" is a noun.

How do you pronounce "Ideals"?

"Ideals" is pronounced /ˌbō-ī-ˈdē(-ə)l/.

What is the origin of the word "Ideals"?

"Ideals" comes from French beau idéal ideal beauty. First known use: 15th century.

What is another word for "Ideals" meaning "someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation"?

When "Ideals" (noun) means someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation, synonyms include beau ideals, classics, eidolons, exemplars, ideas and models.