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

Taking him at his word, I relate to Cruise’s starry-eyed passion for films and all the ways they can bring people together.

From Salon ● Sep. 17, 2026

But he does urge caution for "starry-eyed MBAs" who think they're immune from the risks of failure.

From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026

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

From Slate ● Jan. 3, 2026

He’s stubborn too, convinced the new generation are starry-eyed fools.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 19, 2025

And now he was in that field house again, not as some gawking, starry-eyed kid, but as a football player, preparing for the semifinal game against the Carter Cowboys.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger