STARRY-EYED Synonyms: 37 Similar and Opposite Words

starry-eyed

adjective

ˈstär-ē-ˌīd

Definition of starry-eyed

as in romantic

having or marked by a tendency to be guided more by ideals than by reality the starry-eyed notion that international sports competitions actually help foster global harmony

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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 starry-eyed There is a starry-eyed optimism in the gesture that emphasizes the darker manipulations of their relationship. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026 Even amid dismal ratings for the US government overall, views of NASA remain relatively starry-eyed. — Ariel Edwards-Levy, CNN Money, 9 Apr. 2026 It had supposedly been made in the nineteen-forties, for an Italian countess or an English lady, then scrapped, and afterward either smuggled out of the workroom by a starry-eyed seamstress or, with the atelier head’s approval, given to one of the in-house models. — Han Ong, New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2026 On Tuesday night, as the NFL world reeled with the Maxx Crosby news and the NBA was starry-eyed at Bam Adebayo’s 83-point game, the rest of us were watching Team Italy embarrass the good ol’ US of A with an 8-6 win in the World Baseball Classic. — Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for starry-eyed

Recent Examples of Synonyms for starry-eyed

Adjective

Morgan developed the test with her longtime collaborator and romantic partner, Harvard psychology professor Henry Murray (Crowe).

— Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2026
Pike committed the murder over an intense romantic jealousy of Slemmer, who allegedly attempted to steal her boyfriend’s attention.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of romantic

Adjective

Nonlinear editing changed how films are cut; digital cinematography changed how they are shot and reviewed; visual effects and virtual production made once-impractical images possible.

— Partner Content, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026
That would be impractical in Soho and unthinkable in Times Square.

— Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of impractical

Adjective

There still exists in him the hope for a return to his idealistic notion of the box being a portal for dimensional advancement, where diseases could be cured, peace could be achieved, and a techno-utopia might be possible across all worlds.

— Scott Tobias, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
The series is set in a world under constant surveillance, in which a troubled war veteran and an idealistic Europol agent form an unlikely duo to unravel a tech conspiracy threatening Europe and the foundations of reality, the logline runs.

— Emily Longeretta, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of idealistic

Adjective

The vision of a utopian domestic future took a strange turn during the Cold War, marrying the breathless excitement of the space age with the existential dread of nuclear annihilation.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Some scientists are pushing back against these utopian portrayals.

— Christopher von Rueden, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of utopian

Browse Nearby Words

starry

starry-eyed

stars

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Style

“Starry-eyed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/starry-eyed. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of starry-eyed

adjective

Example Sentences

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