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

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

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

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

There is arguably no other destination that evokes such a fantasy, having been glamorized in films like The Talented Mr. Ripley and waxed on poetically by authors like John Steinbeck. —Elise Taylor, Vogue, 9 July 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