Strangely italicised search for perfection (10)

I believe the answer is:

idealistic

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'strangely italicised search for perfection' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'strangely italicised' is the wordplay.
'strangely' indicates an anagram.
'italicised' with letters rearranged gives 'IDEALISTIC'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for idealistic that I've seen before include "Striving for perfection" , "Utopian" , "Impracticable" , "Naively impractical" , "High-minded - italicised (anag)" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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