Word
quixotic
Phoneticsquixot·ic
US/kwɪkˈsɑtɪk/
UK/kwɪksˈɒtɪk/
Definition
adj. to be very idealistic and hopeful in a way that is not realistic. You use this to describe someone who tries to reach impossible goals because of their romantic or noble ideas.
adj. to be exceedingly idealistic, unrealistic, and impractical. Typically applied to pursuits, characters, or schemes that prioritize romanticized notions over practical considerations. Adjective.
Examples
“The young man has a quixotic plan to save the world.”
“His quixotic attempt to reform the entire legal system within a single year was met with skepticism by his experienced colleagues.”
“While others focused on achievable incremental changes, she pursued a quixotic vision of total corporate transparency, regardless of the significant financial risks or the likely resistance from the board of directors.”
Examples
simple
“The young man has a quixotic plan to save the world.”
contextual
“His quixotic attempt to reform the entire legal system within a single year was met with skepticism by his experienced colleagues.”
complex
“While others focused on achievable incremental changes, she pursued a quixotic vision of total corporate transparency, regardless of the significant financial risks or the likely resistance from the board of directors.”
Real-World Examples
“Klaver, the ex-FBI guy, suspects that junior is on some kid of Quixotic moral crusade and he is punishing the sinners.” Etymology
Derived from Spanish Quixote, the surname of Don Quixote, the title character in the novel by Miguel de Cervantes, + -ic.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/quixotic