idealize

verb

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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

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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 Her capacity to understand intellectuals in the context of cohesive, competitive communities of thinkers and writers allowed her to avoid both idealizing her subjects and cynically dismissing them. — Yuval Levin, National Review, "The Historian as Moralist," 31 Dec. 2019 Most of them marry, and love their wives sincerely, but since their sociology idealizes women and their mythology excludes them, the impasse that results is often little short of tragic. — Larry Mcmurtry, Harper's magazine, "American Cowboys," 28 Oct. 2019 Aciman’s characters idealize a state of attunement. — Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, "“Find Me” Is a Shallow Sequel to “Call Me By Your Name”," 21 Oct. 2019 Then stop idealizing a person who didn’t value your relationship enough to consider relocating with you. — Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, "Dear Abby: Woman can’t move on from hometown first love," 31 Aug. 2019 Even though readers tend to idealize these settings, Ames made sure to incorporate the highs and the lows into The Other’s Gold. — Seija Rankin, EW.com, "How Elizabeth Ames wrote The Other's Gold, your new favorite campus novel," 27 Aug. 2019 Lorenz idealized the atmosphere in 12 equations that described the motion of gas in a rotating, stratified fluid. — Joshua Sokol, WIRED, "These Hidden Women Helped Invent Chaos Theory," 26 May 2019 In 2009, after all, the Internet idealized supermodel Heidi Klum for returning to the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show runway just five weeks after giving birth. — Lauren Valenti, Vogue, "How Beyoncé Is Creating a New Narrative Around Motherhood and the Female Body," 6 Aug. 2018 But the temptation to idealize him as a symbol may be too strong. — Edward Rothstein, WSJ, "‘Poet of the Body: New York’s Walt Whitman’ Review: An American Bard’s Early Years," 24 June 2019

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.

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Last Updated

8 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Idealize.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/idealize. Accessed 20 January 2020.

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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