Identify the synonym of 'Quixotic':
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Correct Answer
Idealistic
Explanation
The question asks you to identify the synonym (the word with the closest meaning) of Quixotic.
Quixotic is an adjective used to describe someone or something that is exceedingly idealistic, unrealistic, impractical, or driven by noble but unreachable goals. Therefore, Idealistic is the correct synonym because it describes a person who cherishes or pursues high or noble principles and purposes, often ignoring practical considerations.
Let's look at why the other choices are incorrect:
Practical means concerned with the actual doing or use of something rather than with theory and ideas, making it a direct antonym.
Realistic refers to having or showing a sensible and practical idea of what can be achieved or expected, which is another direct antonym.
Logical means clear, sound reasoning that makes sense in the real world, which stands opposite to the impractical nature of being quixotic.
Because practical, realistic, and logical all focus on real-world feasibility and common sense, Option 2 is the only choice that matches the imaginative, romanticized meaning of quixotic.
Key Points
To build your vocabulary for competitive exams, it helps to know the unique literary origin of this word.
The word 'quixotic' comes directly from Don Quixote, the famous fictional hero of a 17th-century novel by Miguel de Cervantes. In the story, Don Quixote is an eccentric gentleman who loses his touch with reality and goes on romantic, hopeless quests—famously attacking windmills thinking they are giant monsters.
Common synonyms for quixotic include: Idealistic, Visionary, Impractical, Chimerical, and Romantic.
Common antonyms for quixotic include: Practical, Pragmatic, Realistic, Rational, and Sensible.