Quixotic
adjective
Having ideas or plans that are not realistic.
His quixotic idea of creating a museum in his hometown was met with resistance.
Often appears as...
- quixotic quest
- quixotic venture
adjective
Being overly romantic to a foolish or impractical degree.
He's a quixotic character, always trying to play the knight in shining armor.
Often appears as...
- quixotic romance
- quixotic endeavor
Usage tips
Literary
adjective
Having ideas or plans that are not realistic.
His quixotic idea of creating a museum in his hometown was met with resistance.
Often appears as...
- quixotic quest
- quixotic venture
adjective
Being overly romantic to a foolish or impractical degree.
He's a quixotic character, always trying to play the knight in shining armor.
Often appears as...
- quixotic romance
- quixotic endeavor
Usage tips
Literary
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Cervantes' Influence
The word 'quixotic' is inspired by Don Quixote, a character who chased unrealistic dreams.
His quixotic plan to end world hunger in a year reminded people of Don Quixote's delusions.
Pro Tip 2/3Unattainable Goals
'Quixotic' often describes efforts doomed to fail because the goal is unachievable.
Her quixotic efforts to learn ten languages in a month were admirable but futile.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Negative Always
Sometimes 'quixotic' expresses admiration for someone's bold but impractical ideas.
The quixotic nature of his renewable energy project attracted many optimistic investors.
Pro Tip 1/3Cervantes' Influence
The word 'quixotic' is inspired by Don Quixote, a character who chased unrealistic dreams.
His quixotic plan to end world hunger in a year reminded people of Don Quixote's delusions.
Pro Tip 2/3Unattainable Goals
'Quixotic' often describes efforts doomed to fail because the goal is unachievable.
Her quixotic efforts to learn ten languages in a month were admirable but futile.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Negative Always
Sometimes 'quixotic' expresses admiration for someone's bold but impractical ideas.
The quixotic nature of his renewable energy project attracted many optimistic investors.
Pro Tip 1/3Cervantes' Influence
The word 'quixotic' is inspired by Don Quixote, a character who chased unrealistic dreams.
His quixotic plan to end world hunger in a year reminded people of Don Quixote's delusions.
Pro Tip 2/3Unattainable Goals
'Quixotic' often describes efforts doomed to fail because the goal is unachievable.
Her quixotic efforts to learn ten languages in a month were admirable but futile.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Negative Always
Sometimes 'quixotic' expresses admiration for someone's bold but impractical ideas.
The quixotic nature of his renewable energy project attracted many optimistic investors.
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Video examples
Where joy hides and how...
to understand the relationship between the physical world and the mysterious, quixotic emotion we call "joy." And what I discovered is that not only are they linked, but that the physical world can be a powerful resource to us
Video examples
Where joy hides and how...
to understand the relationship between the physical world and the mysterious, quixotic emotion we call "joy." And what I discovered is that not only are they linked, but that the physical world can be a powerful resource to us
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
Ilan Stavans
Mexican Author
Don Quixote' is a very political book that has been used by diplomats, politicians, guerrilla fighters, to inspire people, to convince them that they themselves can become quixotic. George Washington had a copy of the book on his desk when signing the U.S. Constitution.
Quote examples
Mark Billingham
English Novelist
Ian Rankin's Rebus is the king of modern British crime fiction. He is dour, determined, and constantly falls foul of his seniors. For all this, we root for him. He is eminently loveable, a quixotic hero moving through the darker half of a Jekyll and Hyde Edinburgh.
Quote examples
Ted Cruz
American Politician
If you think back to the fight over drones, when I was proud to be standing shoulder to shoulder with Rand Paul filibustering for 13 hours, that was viewed as a fringe issue, as a quixotic issue, and yet millions of Americans engaged, spoke up, got online.
Quote examples
T. C. Boyle
American Novelist
I'm just kind of fascinated by how we can deny that we are animals and what our impact on the other animals is like, and how quixotic we can be in trying to assess what we've done in trying to correct it.
Quote examples
George Vecsey
American Author
Three of the brightest baseball pitchers of their times staged comebacks without much success - David Cone, Jim Bouton and Jim Palmer - but there was room to admire their quixotic gesture.
Quote examples
Michael Wolff
American Author
Rusbridger's curious success, especially for a temperamentally remote figure, has been to give a reasonable face to the Guardian's quite quixotic mission.
Quote examples
Gioconda Belli
American Author
There is nothing quixotic or romantic in wanting to change the world. It is possible. It is the age-old vocation of all humanity.
Quote examples
Kurt Elling
American Musician
It's true that I'm not known as a crooner or balladeer. I'm known for a more crusading or quixotic temperament.
Quote examples
Ilan Stavans
Mexican Author
Don Quixote' is a very political book that has been used by diplomats, politicians, guerrilla fighters, to inspire people, to convince them that they themselves can become quixotic. George Washington had a copy of the book on his desk when signing the U.S. Constitution.
Quote examples
Mark Billingham
English Novelist
Ian Rankin's Rebus is the king of modern British crime fiction. He is dour, determined, and constantly falls foul of his seniors. For all this, we root for him. He is eminently loveable, a quixotic hero moving through the darker half of a Jekyll and Hyde Edinburgh.
Quote examples
Ted Cruz
American Politician
If you think back to the fight over drones, when I was proud to be standing shoulder to shoulder with Rand Paul filibustering for 13 hours, that was viewed as a fringe issue, as a quixotic issue, and yet millions of Americans engaged, spoke up, got online.
Quote examples
T. C. Boyle
American Novelist
I'm just kind of fascinated by how we can deny that we are animals and what our impact on the other animals is like, and how quixotic we can be in trying to assess what we've done in trying to correct it.
Quote examples
George Vecsey
American Author
Three of the brightest baseball pitchers of their times staged comebacks without much success - David Cone, Jim Bouton and Jim Palmer - but there was room to admire their quixotic gesture.
Quote examples
Michael Wolff
American Author
Rusbridger's curious success, especially for a temperamentally remote figure, has been to give a reasonable face to the Guardian's quite quixotic mission.
Quote examples
Gioconda Belli
American Author
There is nothing quixotic or romantic in wanting to change the world. It is possible. It is the age-old vocation of all humanity.
Quote examples
Kurt Elling
American Musician
It's true that I'm not known as a crooner or balladeer. I'm known for a more crusading or quixotic temperament.
Example 1 of 8
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