quixotic endeavor

/kwɪkˈsɒtɪk ɪnˈdevə/ (UK); /kwɪkˈsɑːtɪk ɪnˈdevər/ (US)

noun phrase

  1. An idealistic, noble, but impractical project or effort that is very unlikely to succeed; often used with a slightly admiring or romantic tone.

    C2

    countable; often used as 'a quixotic endeavor'; UK spelling: 'quixotic endeavour'formal/literary

    • "He described the plan as a quixotic endeavor."B2
    • "Her quixotic endeavor to reform the entire system attracted admiration but little support."C1
    • "Starting a free school in every village was a quixotic endeavor, but she refused to give up."B2

Collocations

quixotic questnoble endeavorfoolhardy endeavordoomed endeavor

Word family

quixoticquixoticallyquixotism