glamorize

verb

glam·​or·​ize ˈgla-mə-ˌrīz 

variants or less commonly glamourize

glamorized; glamorizing

transitive verb

1

: to look upon or depict as glamorous : romanticize

the novel glamorizes war

2

: to make glamorous

glamorize the living room

glamorization

ˌgla-mə-rə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

glamorizer

ˈgla-mə-ˌrī-zər 

noun

Synonyms

• idealize
• romanticize
• idolize

Examples of glamorize in a Sentence

The movie was criticized for glamorizing crime and violence.

a novel that glamorizes war

Recent Examples on the Web

None of it should be erased or glamorized into something effortless. —Amy Shoenthal, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025

Growing up, Glaser says society glamorized not eating. —Jenelle Riley, Variety, 17 July 2025

But a simple outfit or social media post glamorizing the past lacks context regarding what America was really like for women more than 80 years ago, Divita said. —Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 10 July 2025

But the mini chain’s original Sunset Plaza location, which helped glamorize the tart-sweet and crunchy salad — Britney Spears and the Kardashians are among its many celebrity fans — is shutting down next month. —Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

glamour + -ize

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for glamorize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• agonize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize

Kids Definition

glamorize

verb

glam·​or·​ize

variants also glamourize

ˈglam-ə-rīz 

glamorized; glamorizing

1

: to make glamorous

2

: to present so as to seem glamorous