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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of romanticize
Elk hunting has always been romanticized for us Easterners.
—
Derek Horner, Outdoor Life, 8 Oct. 2025
Rensch romanticized the idea of a child prodigy finding himself inside the game, and with his life circumstances, the board could serve as a tool for his survival.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2025
Consider romanticizing your morning routine or finding a balance between work and self-care.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
But through this elaborate mash-up, Wright creates the off-kilter atmosphere necessary to underscore the danger at hand, the way people in power romanticize their own cruelty and spin hatred as love.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for romanticize
Derek Horner, Outdoor Life, 8 Oct. 2025
Rensch romanticized the idea of a child prodigy finding himself inside the game, and with his life circumstances, the board could serve as a tool for his survival.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2025
Consider romanticizing your morning routine or finding a balance between work and self-care.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
But through this elaborate mash-up, Wright creates the off-kilter atmosphere necessary to underscore the danger at hand, the way people in power romanticize their own cruelty and spin hatred as love.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for romanticize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for romanticize
Verb
-
Gen Z, in particular, has moved away from the hustle-and-grind culture of the 2000s and early 2010s and instead idealizes wellness, leisure and affluence without overt labor.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
-
There’s no wishful thinking that our society will stop idealizing appearance, but framing and intrinsic motivation matter.—
Alexa Mikhail,
Flow Space,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Creative activations, particularly ones that shock or disquiet, can make the problem of textile waste visible in a city where overconsumption is often glamorized.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Safdie makes no effort to glamorize the Kerr’s work, or to insist that there is actually an elegance to what MMA fighters do.—
Richard Lawson,
Rolling Stone,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Romanticize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/romanticize. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share