visionary

1 of 2

adjective

vi·​sion·​ary ˈvi-zhə-ˌner-ē How to pronounce visionary (audio)
1
: having or marked by foresight and imagination
a visionary leader
a visionary invention
2
a
: of the nature of a vision : illusory
b
: incapable of being realized or achieved : utopian
a visionary scheme
c
: existing only in imagination : unreal
3
a
: able or likely to see visions
b
: disposed to reverie or imagining : dreamy
4
: of, relating to, or characterized by visions or the power of vision
visionariness noun

visionary

2 of 2

noun

plural visionaries
1
: one having unusual foresight and imagination
a visionary in the computer industry
2
: one whose ideas or projects are impractical : dreamer
3
: one who sees visions : seer

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How Should You Use visionary?

A visionary is someone with a strong vision of the future. Since such visions aren't always accurate, a visionary's ideas may either work brilliantly or fail miserably. Even so, visionary is usually a positive word. Martin Luther King, Jr., for instance, was a visionary in his hopes and ideas for a just society. The word is also an adjective; thus, for example, we may speak of a visionary project, a visionary leader, a visionary painter, or a visionary company.

Choose the Right Synonym for visionary

imaginary, fanciful, visionary, fantastic, chimerical, quixotic mean unreal or unbelievable.

imaginary applies to something which is fictitious and purely the product of one's imagination.

an imaginary desert isle

fanciful suggests the free play of the imagination.

a teller of fanciful stories

visionary stresses impracticality or incapability of realization.

visionary schemes

fantastic implies incredibility or strangeness beyond belief.

a fantastic world inhabited by monsters

chimerical combines the implication of visionary and fantastic.

chimerical dreams of future progress

quixotic implies a devotion to romantic or chivalrous ideals unrestrained by ordinary prudence and common sense.

a quixotic crusade

Examples of visionary in a Sentence

Adjective She is known as a visionary leader. He had a visionary experience. Noun She's a visionary in her field. according to Greek myth, Cassandra was a visionary who was endowed with the gift of inerrant prophecy but fated to never be believed
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Sievers said the founders of Renew Energy were visionary in setting up a plant for fractioning, but were ahead of their time. Karl Ebert, Journal Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2024 Port Commissioner Sandy Naranjo Transitioning from the 1980 Master Plan to our visionary final draft Port Master Plan Update embodies a pivotal shift for the Port of San Diego, deeply integrating environmental justice and equity into our core planning principles. Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Feb. 2024 Under the visionary leadership of Marty McDonald, founder and CEO of Boss Women Media, the event was meticulously crafted to create strategic pathways for impact. Ebony Flake, Essence, 26 Feb. 2024 With a portfolio that includes over 16 acquisitions in just a few years and a startling 20% market share, NCA is proof of what can be accomplished when visionary leadership and a strong, creative model are combined. Tyler Giroud, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024 Time for Firewall Fireworks Arora is considered one of the more visionary leaders in networking and cybersecurity. R. Scott Raynovich, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 For startups around the world, Katapult serves as a beacon of hope, demonstrating the profound impact of how collaboration brings visionary ideas to life. Kate Vitasek, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 The firm's co-founder and chief visionary officer Lisette Sand-Freedman tells me that Judge Judy tried out the e.l.f. Jason Sheeler, Peoplemag, 11 Feb. 2024 Quirky, inventive, even visionary forms evoking dystopian scenarios of technology run amok are represented in the works of Judith Belzer, Carol Bernard, Edward Biberman, Boris Deutsch, Miriam Dym, John Gutmann, Bruce Handelsman, Ned Kahn, Richard Kamler and Irving Norman. Julia Couzens, Sacramento Bee, 30 Jan. 2024
Noun
To be an American is to be a descendant of conquerors, pioneers, visionaries, and explorers. Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 16 Mar. 2024 But this much is both clear and, for the conference, tragic: If the Pac-12 presidents had been as visionary with their media strategy as their legislative reforms, this men’s basketball tournament would not be the last. Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024 But the foundation appears to be consistent with Musk’s general disdain toward non-profit work, giving ammo to his detractors who see him as less of a visionary and more of a trolling profiteer hell-bent on acquiring power. Allison Morrow, CNN, 12 Mar. 2024 Grammy nominee Rufus Wainwright has penned over 20 new songs for the occasion, Tony-winning visionary Ivo van Hove is directing, and the supporting cast includes Unorthodox’s Shira Haas, but all eyes, presumably, will be on its leading lady. Radhika Seth, Vogue, 9 Mar. 2024 Prominent visionaries like Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and Stephen Hawking have voiced concerns about potential hazards associated with our artificial inventions. Chuck Brooks, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 In keeping with the country’s abundant luxury tourism developments, part of the country’s visionary goals to create a thriving, international economy, and world-leading luxury tourism destination by 2030, attendees of MDLBEAST Soundstorm 23 could book the Very Important Beast (VIB) tickets. Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 4 Mar. 2024 Erika De Casier, after writing for the K-pop visionaries NewJeans, furthers her own retrofuturist R. & B. vision at Warsaw (March 30). The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2024 The Peated: Ichiro Akuto, the visionary behind Ichiro's Malt, is known for his commitment to quality. Lela London, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'visionary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1648, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Noun

1702, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of visionary was in 1648

Dictionary Entries Near visionary

Cite this Entry

“Visionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/visionary. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

visionary

1 of 2 adjective
vi·​sion·​ary ˈvizh-ə-ˌner-ē How to pronounce visionary (audio)
1
: resembling a vision especially in being impractical
visionary plans for underwater cities
2
: likely to dream or imagine

visionary

2 of 2 noun
plural visionaries
1
: a person whose ideas or plans are impractical : dreamer
2
: a person who sees visions : seer
3
: one having unusual foresight and imagination
a visionary in the field of computer animation

More from Merriam-Webster on visionary

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