1
as in model
someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation
she is the beau ideal of the dedicated medical professional
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2
as in ideal
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
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Recent Examples of beau ideal
The beau ideal of illiberal democracy is, of course, Viktor Orbán of Hungary, who outlined the term in a 2014 speech.
—
Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 31 Jan. 2024
Fieg is its beau ideal.
—Kareem Rashed, Robb Report, 26 Feb. 2022
At Délice & Sarrasin, a charming French bistro in the West Village, vegans can bide their time in style, enticing new recruits with the beau ideal of meatless haute cuisine.
—David Kortava, The New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2021
If Teddy Roosevelt was the Harvard beau ideal at the turn of the last century, Mark Zuckerberg is the Harvard man to be in the new millennium.
—William Stadiem, Town & Country, 2 Aug. 2016
If Hicks is the beau ideal in today’s MLB, then Miles Mikolas is a throwback to the Roosevelt administration.
—Michael Beller, SI.com, 23 May 2018
Conservatives like to imagine Reagan as the beau ideal of a president who faithfully adhered to their principles, but Trump is the president who has actually done it.
—Jonathan Chait, Daily Intelligencer, 23 Feb. 2018
Male dictators are Trump’s beau ideal of an admirable world leader.
—Jonathan Chait, Daily Intelligencer, 24 Jan. 2018
There was a time when the beau ideal was to drive your sports car to the track, paint numbers on it, go racing and then drive home.
—Dan Neil, WSJ, 6 July 2017
Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 31 Jan. 2024
Fieg is its beau ideal.
—Kareem Rashed, Robb Report, 26 Feb. 2022
At Délice & Sarrasin, a charming French bistro in the West Village, vegans can bide their time in style, enticing new recruits with the beau ideal of meatless haute cuisine.
—David Kortava, The New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2021
If Teddy Roosevelt was the Harvard beau ideal at the turn of the last century, Mark Zuckerberg is the Harvard man to be in the new millennium.
—William Stadiem, Town & Country, 2 Aug. 2016
If Hicks is the beau ideal in today’s MLB, then Miles Mikolas is a throwback to the Roosevelt administration.
—Michael Beller, SI.com, 23 May 2018
Conservatives like to imagine Reagan as the beau ideal of a president who faithfully adhered to their principles, but Trump is the president who has actually done it.
—Jonathan Chait, Daily Intelligencer, 23 Feb. 2018
Male dictators are Trump’s beau ideal of an admirable world leader.
—Jonathan Chait, Daily Intelligencer, 24 Jan. 2018
There was a time when the beau ideal was to drive your sports car to the track, paint numbers on it, go racing and then drive home.
—Dan Neil, WSJ, 6 July 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beau ideal
Noun
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The tiered model approach allows developers to select the appropriate balance between performance and cost, with GPT-4.1 Nano being ideal for tasks like classification or autocompletion, and the standard GPT-4.1 model suited for more complex applications.—
Janakiram MSV,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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This will vary based on the model of the car as well as the car seat itself.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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On top of that, when your roots and pillow are damp, that creates a moist, warm breeding ground ideal for Malassezia yeast, which in excess, can cause dandruff, per Dr. Cheng, or an inflammatory skin condition called seborrheic dermatitis (characterized by itchy, greasy patches).—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
8 Apr. 2025
-
This Anker power bank stores up to two full charges for your phone and has a USB-C port ideal for fast charging.—
Jordyn Burrell,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Another good idea before kicking off an exercise routine: For activities that involve spinal twisting and bending, talk with your physical therapist to get tips on proper form.—
Alice Oglethorpe,
SELF,
17 Apr. 2025
-
The basic idea is to start with something large and compact it down for easy transport.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
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All of them are classics that result in a total five points.—
Marilú Almaguer,
Glamour,
10 Apr. 2025
-
No look has to be permanent, and with 2025’s most popular looks leaning into avant-garde classics, taking your hair to a new height is this season’s most palpable trends.—
India Espy-Jones,
Essence,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Allegedly Castor and Pollux calmed the seas, and the Twins have been the patron saints of sailors ever since.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
6 Apr. 2025
-
Allegedly Castor and Pollux calmed the seas, and the Twins have been the patron saints of sailors ever since.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
6 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Of course, each and every bagel is toasted to golden perfection.—
Abigail Wilt,
Southern Living,
27 Feb. 2025
-
Packaging your genius doesn’t require perfection from the start.—
Amanda Miller Littlejohn,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
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For example, SuperMouth engineers toothbrushes designed to fit various contours of a human mouth, along with UV-sanitizing holders, custom formulations for toothpaste, and educational tools.—
Chris Gallagher,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
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For example, the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) will run the grid, but the power over market rules will still be set by a regional organization subject to Trump’s FERC.—
Jamie Court,
Mercury News,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The tilt of recent immigration toward higher skilled workers from Asia is another manifestation of this same pattern.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
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But the truly painful manifestation of distaste for Musk has been entirely legal, as consumers have shunned his cars.—
Clarence Page,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Beau ideal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beau%20ideal. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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