overidealize

verb

over·​ide·​al·​ize ˌō-vər-ī-ˈdē-(ə-)ˌlīz How to pronounce overidealize (audio)
overidealized; overidealizing

transitive verb

: to attribute unrealistically ideal characteristics to (something or someone)
tended to overidealize his mother
overidealizing the past
… the documentary … focuses on creating a complete picture of the sometimes overidealized author to show her for the complicated woman she was.Karen Shade

Word History

First Known Use

1852, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overidealize was in 1852

Dictionary Entries Near overidealize

Cite this Entry

“Overidealize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overidealize. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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