starry-eyed

American  

[stahr-ee-ahyd] / ˈstɑr iˌaɪd /

adjective

1. overly romantic or idealistic.

   He was a starry-eyed dreamer.

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starry-eyed British  

adjective

1. given to naive wishes, judgments, etc; full of unsophisticated optimism; gullible

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Etymology

Origin of starry-eyed

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

starry-eyed

The mistake starry-eyed investors make at times like this is betting on every horse, or in thinking that they can handicap AI thoroughbreds.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 11, 2026

Then just a starry-eyed Catholic schoolgirl, she remembers walking down Times Square and hearing a woman singing in the streets in a style unknown to her.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 27, 2026

There was still plenty of starry-eyed enthusiasm for the handsome young mayor and the hope he represented.

From Slate ● Jan. 3, 2026

When others are making New Year’s resolutions, or are starry-eyed about the prospects of making money, many companies issue earnings preannouncements that are essentially confessions.

From Barron's ● Dec. 31, 2025

Sweet wasn't the word that sprang to my mind, but like all moms throughout history, Ishtar had a starry-eyed view of her child.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda