quixotically

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /kwɪkˈsɑtɪkli/ UK /kwɪkˈsɒtɪkli/ See IPA manual

adv

Meanings

1

adv
in a manner that is exceedingly idealistic or unrealistic, often without regard for practicality

He pursued his dreams quixotically, ignoring all obstacles.
2

adv
acting with impulsive enthusiasm or romanticism, often in pursuit of noble but impractical goals

She quixotically believed she could change the world overnight.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adv · in a manner that is... fancifully dreamilyunrealisticallyromantically naively

2 adv · acting with impulsive... romantically idealisticallyimpractically

Opposites

pragmatically realistically

Etymology

From Quixote, the character Don Quixote of Cervantes' novel, giving English quixotic ('idealistic, unrealistic'); with the adverbial suffix -ally it becomes quixotically ('in a quixotic manner').

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

# quixotically

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adv
**IPA (US):** kwɪkˈsɑtɪkli
**IPA (UK):** kwɪkˈsɒtɪkli

## Meanings
1. in a manner that is exceedingly idealistic or unrealistic, often without regard for practicality
2. acting with impulsive enthusiasm or romanticism, often in pursuit of noble but impractical goals

## Examples
- He pursued his dreams quixotically, ignoring all obstacles.
- She quixotically believed she could change the world overnight.

## Synonyms
- fancifully
- dreamily
- unrealistically
- romantically
- naively
- idealistically
- impractically

## Antonyms
- pragmatically
- realistically

## Etymology
From Quixote, the character Don Quixote of Cervantes' novel, giving English quixotic ('idealistic, unrealistic'); with the adverbial suffix -ally it becomes quixotically ('in a quixotic manner').

## AI Etymology
Quixotically comes from Quixote, the character Don Quixote of Cervantes' novel, giving English quixotic ('idealistic, unrealistic'); with the adverbial suffix -ally it becomes quixotically ('in a quixotic manner'). In current use it is an adverb meaning "in a manner that is exceedingly idealistic or unrealistic, often without regard for practicality". That sense is explained by the older material without requiring a speculative semantic step: the inherited or borrowed base supplies the field of meaning, while the English formation fixes its modern role. The history is mainly one of transmission into English, with the older form and sense carried through borrowing or adaptation. For dictionary purposes, the important point is the continuity between the older form, the route into English, and the present lexical sense.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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