mythologize

verb

my·​thol·​o·​gize mi-ˈthä-lə-ˌjīz 

mythologized; mythologizing

transitive verb

1

obsolete : to explain the mythological significance of

2

: to build a myth around : mythicize

intransitive verb

1

: to relate, classify, and explain myths

2

: to create or perpetuate myths

mythologizer noun

Examples of mythologize in a Sentence

a politician who has been mythologized by his supporters

Recent Examples on the Web

Quantrill, like other prominent Confederates such as the Ku Klux Klan’s first grand wizard, Nathan Bedford Forrest, was mythologized by Confederate sympathizers. —Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 6 Sep. 2025

And his ultimate war is with Bob, a tech CEO who rants about his haters and has gotten rich off rebranded snake oil and whose obvious corruption has been obscured by his self-mythologizing. —Alison Willmore, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025

Los Angeles and New York have been mythologized through countless films; Atlanta, by contrast, has only ATL, a skating drama from 2006. —Shelby Stewart, Essence, 14 Aug. 2025

In both countries, Partition has been mythologized in ways that leave little space to mourn what was lost. —Sam Dalrymple, Time, 14 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French mythologiser, from mythologie mythology + -iser -ize

First Known Use

1603, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for mythologize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize