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 of glamorize

• idealize
• romanticize
• soften
• 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

Novels like Rachel Yoder’s Nightbitch depict the surreal and alienating days of early parenthood with an eye to de-glamorizing the post-partum experience. —Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026

The song was seen as glamorizing Nazi ideology, antisemitism and Hitler. —Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 26 Jan. 2026

Often, fires are depicted in an overly dramatic or glamorized way, but each home represents a person’s life. —Time Photo Department, Time, 23 Dec. 2025

My journey will be publicized and glamorized, but my evolution process is sacred to me. —Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 23 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

glamour + -ize

First Known Use

1913, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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