idealize

verb

ide·al·ize | \ ī-ˈdē-(ə-)ˌlīz

idealized; idealizing

Definition of idealize

intransitive verb

1 : to form ideals

2 : to work idealistically

transitive verb

1a : to give an ideal form or value to

b : to attribute ideal characteristics to tended to idealize her teachers

2 : to treat idealistically portraitists who idealize their subjects

Other Words from idealize Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about idealize

Keep scrolling for more

Other Words from idealize

idealization \ ī-ˌdē-(ə-)lə-ˈzā-shən

\ noun

idealizer \ ī-ˈdē-(ə-)ˌlī-zər

\ noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for idealize

Synonyms

glamorize (also glamourize), glamour (up), glorify, romanticize

Antonyms

deglamorize

Examples of idealize in a Sentence

She tends to idealize her job. he had a tendency to idealize his heroes and believe they could do no wrong

Recent Examples on the Web

The smooth hybrid of reggae and rock performed by Sublime with Rome idealizes the mellow Southern California lifestyle. — kansascity, "KC concerts June 6-12: Luis Miguel, Billie Eilish, Sublime with Rome, Snarky Puppy," 4 June 2019 Resist the common tendency to idealize the relationship... — Willa Bennett, Seventeen, "How Do You Get Over Your Ex?," 8 Sep. 2017 Schumer plays Renee, a woman who hits her head and wakes up with the confidence of a supermodel, and Ratajkowski is Mallory, a model Renee idealizes for her looks. — Janet Mock, Marie Claire, "Emily Ratajkowski Is Unapologetically Herself," 10 May 2018 The newer seeds that plant breeders produce, whether open-pollinated or hybrid, are manipulated to thrive, and aren’t idealized in the same way, except by the breeders. — Tejal Rao, New York Times, "Seeds Only a Plant Breeder Could Love, Until Now," 27 Feb. 2018 Challenges are far too great to adequately mobilize another farming generation and draw people to the field, which is also ironic when farms are idealized as bucolic and peaceful. — Adrian White, Good Housekeeping, "Farm Life Isn't Nearly As Idyllic As It Looks On Instagram—But I Still Wouldn’t Trade It For Anything," 11 Jan. 2018 Both idealized by Lawson (in their physical beauty) and pathologized by the culture (as symbols of violence or fear), they are largely liberated from the kinds of domestic circumstance and context in which Lawson tends to frame her women. — Rachel Aviv, The New Yorker, "Deana Lawson’s Kingdom of Restored Glory," 8 Jan. 2018 The article avoids idealizing the victim, who, like the others, had been using drugs before the murder. — USA TODAY, "Arizona Republic, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel lead 2017 USA TODAY Network journalism awards," 7 Mar. 2018 One explanation suggested by his work is that long-distance daters tend to idealize their relationships. — Dale Markowitz, The Atlantic, "What It’s Like to Finally Meet After Dating Online for Months," 14 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'idealize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about idealize

Dictionary Entries near idealize

Statistics for idealize

Last Updated

11 Jun 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for idealize

The first known use of idealize was in 1786

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for idealize

idealize

verb

English Language Learners Definition of idealize

: to think of or represent (someone or something) as being perfect

See the full definition for idealize in the English Language Learners Dictionary

idealize

transitive verb

ide·al·ize

variants: or chiefly British idealise \ ī-ˈdē-(ə-)ˌlīz

idealized or chiefly British idealised; idealizing or chiefly British idealising

Medical Definition of idealize

: to give ideal form or value to : attribute ideal characteristics of excellence to constantly shifting moods and a tendency to idealize or devalue other people — Harvard Mental Health Letter