idealize

play

verb ide·al·ize \ī-ˈdē-(ə-)ˌlīz\

Definition of idealize

idealized

;

idealizing

intransitive verb
1 : to form ideals
2 : to work idealistically
transitive verb
1a : to give an ideal form or value tob : to attribute ideal characteristics to tended to idealize her teachers
2 : to treat idealistically portraitists who idealize their subjects

idealization

play \ī-ˌdē-(ə-)lə-ˈzā-shən\ noun

idealizer

play \ī-ˈdē-(ə-)ˌlī-zər\ noun

See idealize defined for English-language learners

See idealize defined for kids

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 of idealize from the Web

But the general tenor of his work idealized Native Americans in the name of preserving vanishing ways of life.

— teju cole, New York Times, "Getting Others Right", 13 June 2017
According to Morehouse’s website, Miss Maroon and White embodies the feminine qualities that the Men of Morehouse cherish and idealize.

— allison gordon, ajc, "Social media reacts to death of Morehouse president", 8 June 2017
But Christians don’t own a monopoly on forgiveness, a universal principle that humans have long idealized.

— brandon ambrosino, Washington Post, "Kathy Griffin tweeted something stupid. We should forgive her.", 31 May 2017
But here’s the thing: the time these people are idealizing—the time when women couldn’t leave marriages—was horrible.

— jennifer wright, Harper's BAZAAR, "Feminism and the (False) Fear of Dying Alone", 23 May 2017
One shouldn’t idealize what happened to her: there is a lot of injustice, and harm, and outrage in her story.

— glenn greenwald, The Intercept, "Chelsea Manning is a Free Woman: Her Heroism Has Expanded Beyond Her Initial Whistle-Blowing", 17 May 2017
A follower of the concurrent French Revolution, Arrehenius idealized French chemist Antonie Lavoisier, who had a few years earlier in 1789 put forward the basic theory that elements existed.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "The One Swedish Mine That Gave us Seven Chemical Elements", 28 Feb. 2017
Speed intensely idealized the impressive, articulate and very funny Lincoln, who in turn felt safe opening up to his younger friend.

— charles b. strozier, Smithsonian, "The True Friendship That Saved Abraham Lincoln’s Life", 16 Feb. 2017
Like hip-hop in the U.S., the songs have found traction amongst young people in Mexico who aren’t necessarily involved with the drug war but idealize the power and opportunities associated with the narco-traffickers.

— jakob schiller, WIRED, "Bazooka-Strapped Musicians Celebrate the Violence of Mexico’s Drug War", 20 Nov. 2013

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.

First Known Use of idealize

1786

IDEALIZE Defined for English Language Learners

idealize

play

verb

Definition of idealize for English Language Learners

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

Medical Dictionary

idealize

transitive verb ide·al·ize

variants: or chiefly British

idealise

\ī-ˈdē-(ə-)ˌlīz\play

Medical Definition of idealize

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