as in to idealize
to represent or think of as better than reality would warrant
he romanticized what life in a small town would be like, only to be later disappointed when reality intruded
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Recent Examples of romanticize
So The Paper treats journalism as aspirational — Ned describes over-romanticizing as one of his main faults.
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Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025
Nostalgia can romanticize the past, editing out the hardships and complexities associated with history.
—Kian Bakhtiari, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
That is, until some Gen Zers began romanticizing them and other forms of physical media online, leading to a small resurgence of interest in them.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
While Shrek pouts about missing his solo ogre days, the dastardly Rumpelstiltskin takes advantage, offering him a contract to relive that romanticized time in his life — for a day.
—Skyler Trepel September 1, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for romanticize
Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025
Nostalgia can romanticize the past, editing out the hardships and complexities associated with history.
—Kian Bakhtiari, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
That is, until some Gen Zers began romanticizing them and other forms of physical media online, leading to a small resurgence of interest in them.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
While Shrek pouts about missing his solo ogre days, the dastardly Rumpelstiltskin takes advantage, offering him a contract to relive that romanticized time in his life — for a day.
—Skyler Trepel September 1, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for romanticize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for romanticize
Verb
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This clearly suggests that idealized online self-presentation can inflate social impressions but may create disappointment when offline reality does not match expectations.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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Despite millennials’ push for greater diversity on the runway and more inclusive sizing in denim collections, there’s a growing shift back toward campaigns that idealize ultra-thin bodies and pale skin.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Addressing Consumer Pain Points The startup world glamorizes disruption and wild ideas for the sake of massive capital gains opportunities.—
Brandon Aversano,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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But readers have also criticized Hoover for the book and movie’s portrayal of abuse, which some argued glamorized domestic violence.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Romanticize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/romanticize. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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