glamorize

1 of 2

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

glamorization

2 of 2

noun

glam·​or·​iza·​tion ˌglamərə̇ˈzāshən 

-ˌrīˈz-

plural -s

: the act of glamorizing or the process of being glamorized

Synonyms of glamorize

Verb

• idealize
• romanticize
• soften
• idolize

Examples of glamorize in a Sentence

Verb

The movie was criticized for glamorizing crime and violence.

a novel that glamorizes war

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Beyond post-pandemic freedom, the recent rave explosion can also be credited to BRAT, Charli XCX’s 2024 album that glamorized raving as an It Girl activity. — Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 15 July 2026

The film neither glamorizes nor indicts Solanas, who Taylor humanizes without softening or sentimentalizing her. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 10 June 2026

Where Bonnie and Clyde glamorizes its couple and their crimes, Loden renders Wanda passive and desultory in the lawless turn her life has taken. — Air Mail, 23 May 2026

The plot is high-class soap opera, offered at a time when most composers were avoiding any subject that glamorized the bourgeoisie. — Russell Platt, New Yorker, 20 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

glamour + -ize

First Known Use

Verb

1913, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for glamorize

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

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