visionary 1 of 2

adjective

ˈvi-zhə-ˌner-ē How to pronounce visionary (audio)
Definition of visionarynext
1
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
2
as in fictional
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
3
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

1
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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2
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

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 visionary
Adjective
Lamont over the past eight years has displayed visionary leadership and has adhered to Connecticut’s ‘fiscal guard rails’ rules limiting spending growth and directing surplus revenues toward reserves and pension debt. — Kevin McNabola, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2026 Disney also revealed that Oscar-winning duo Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez will return to pen tunes for the sequel, directed by original Frozen visionary Jennifer Lee and Trent Correy. — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Aug. 2026
Noun
Along with the song, the stars shared an upbeat video directed by Stillz, the Colombian visionary behind several of Bad Bunny and Rosalia’s visuals, and produced by Estevan Oriol. — Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 31 July 2026 At dinners, someone would mention a founder; nods were followed by anecdotes of a charming visionary. — Henrik Landgren, Fortune, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for visionary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for visionary
  1. romantic
  2. fictional
  3. cautious
  4. diviner
  5. dreamer
  6. impractical
  7. mythical
  8. careful
Adjective
  • Lucas was convicted of fatally shooting a 16-year-old girl who rejected his romantic advances and wounding two of her friends.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • This gorgeous night dress will keep you cool in the summer, and features a romantic lace trim, round neckline, and luminous shell buttons.
    — Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of romantic
Adjective
  • Anything seemed possible in medical science breakthroughs, from repairing a fictional astronaut to reconstructing a real-life ulnar collateral ligament (UCL).
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The fictional microstate Elgaland-Vargaland begins as an artistic game but evolves into a powerful lens on borders and identity.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of fictional
Adjective
  • Officials were urging residents to be cautious as the hurricane approached.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Despite expert consensus ranking him QB2 (31st overall), there's reason to be cautious.
    — Steve Bradshaw, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of cautious
Noun
  • Ancient Chinese scholars made records of solar eclipses, and diviners made prophecies during these auspicious events.
    — Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 6 Aug. 2026
  • While often presented as the act of using beauty practices to manifest your desires, diviner and spiritual wellness teacher Tatianna Tarot would caution against getting too attached to semantics.
    — Essence, Essence, 23 Nov. 2025
Definition of diviner
Noun
  • Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen tells the story of Colette (Caruso), a witty young dreamer in 20th-century Paris, who finds her power through writing.
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2026
  • In each of those projects, Johnson created a role for himself, typically a clownish dreamer.
    — Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of dreamer
Adjective
  • Direct transmission becomes increasingly impractical beyond that point.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2026
  • It's born from combining advances across science, engineering and computation in ways that make previously impractical technologies commercially viable.
    — Cyrus Wadia, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of impractical
Adjective
  • The American supermarket, with its endless array of products and innovations like the shopping cart and barcodes, has achieved an almost mythical status around the world.
    — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Such is the power of mythic literature that the creation has outlived his creator.
    — Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of mythical
Adjective
  • Without careful planning to reduce the constellations’ brightness, the team found that, in the most extreme case, the satellites could outnumber visible stars by a factor of 100.
    — Arielle Frommer, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Maneuvering in tight spaces requires careful judgment of each individual case — and not just about which body part is least likely to cause offense when brought into close proximity to a fellow diner.
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of careful

Browse Nearby Words

visionaries
visionary
visioned
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Cite this Entry

“Visionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/visionary. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of visionary for Spanish Speakers

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