idealize

verb

ide·​al·​ize ī-ˈdē-(ə-)ˌlīz 

idealized; idealizing

transitive verb

1

a

: to attribute ideal characteristics to

tended to idealize her teachers

b

: to give an ideal form or value to

2

: to treat idealistically

portraitists who idealize their subjects

intransitive verb

1

: to form ideals

2

: to work idealistically

idealization

ī-ˌdē-(ə-)lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

idealizer

ī-ˈdē-(ə-)ˌlī-zər 

noun

Synonyms

• glamorize
• glamourize
• glamour (up)
• glorify
• romanticize

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 ‘Pedestal Problem’ Being idealized to a certain extent can feel validating, especially when a partner admires your kindness, intelligence or other meaningful qualities. —Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025

For more than a decade, cutting down on meat and other animal products has been idealized as a healthier, more ethical way to eat. —Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 24 Mar. 2025

Only idealized systems that involve infinity—an infinitely long tape, an infinitely extensive grid of particles, an infinitely divisible space for placing pinballs and rubber ducks—can be truly undecidable. —Charlie Wood, Wired News, 6 Apr. 2025

And these heroes, slightly idealized but by no means infallible versions of the ones who exist in real hospitals, keep showing up, shift after endless shift, to keep pushing that rock up the hill. —Judy Berman, Time, 11 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1786, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for idealize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize

Kids Definition

idealize

verb

ide·​al·​ize ī-ˈdē-(ə-)ˌlīz 

idealized; idealizing

: to think of or represent persons or things as one believes they should be rather than as they are

idealization

-ˌdē-(ə-)lə-ˈzā-shən

noun

idealizer

-ˈdē-(ə-)ˌlī-zər 

noun

Medical Definition

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

: 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

idealization noun

or chiefly British idealisation

ī-ˌdē-(ə-)lə-ˈzā-shən