The best replacement for idealist is realist.

The best alternatives to idealist are rated as following:
★★★★★  realist
★★★★  materialist
★★★  perfectionist
★★  pragmatist
★  pacifist
★  optimist
★  cynic
★  visionnaire
★  advanced night repair
★  realist foreign policy
★  dreamer
  clinique even better
  ideologue
  even better
  capitalist
  political realist
  rationalist

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Speaking about idealist, one probably shouldn't forget about rational.

Other search terms related to idealist and their ratings are:
★★★★★ rational
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