romanticize

verb

ro·​man·​ti·​cize rō-ˈman-tə-ˌsīz How to pronounce romanticize (audio)
rə-
romanticized; romanticizing
Synonyms of romanticizenext

transitive verb

: to make romantic : treat as idealized or heroic
romanticize the past

intransitive verb

1
: to hold romantic ideas
2
: to present details, incidents, or people in a romantic way
The book romanticized military life.
romanticization noun

Examples of romanticize in a Sentence

He has romanticized notions of army life. a romanticized view of politics We were romanticizing about the past.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There is nothing romanticized about the pain her characters experience. Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026 Writers love to romanticize the pain of their craft. Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026 Dufu was careful not to romanticize this shift. Alli Kushner, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026 Crucially, the film avoids the trap of scolding younger generations or romanticizing the past. Beandrea July, IndieWire, 28 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for romanticize

Word History

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of romanticize was in 1818

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Romanticize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/romanticize. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

romanticize

verb
ro·​man·​ti·​cize rō-ˈmant-ə-ˌsīz How to pronounce romanticize (audio)
romanticized; romanticizing
1
: to make romantic : show in a romantic way
2
: to have romantic ideas
romanticization noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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