romanticize

verb

ro·​man·​ti·​cize rō-ˈman-tə-ˌsīz 

rə-

romanticized; romanticizing

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

rō-ˌman-tə-sə-ˈzā-shən 

rə-

noun

Synonyms of romanticize

• idealize
• glamorize

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

Far from romanticizing power, Morgenthau saw the need to tame it. — David Sacks, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2026

Bears fans have romanticized Mack’s four-year tenure in Chicago a little bit. — Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026

The comments section was flooded with Instagram users criticizing Hale and Harding for romanticizing their controversial Pretty Little Liars relationship. — Shelby Stivale, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Oct. 2026

Bass responded by accusing her of romanticizing a chief who presided over the mistreatment of Black and Latino residents. — Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for romanticize

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

Kids Definition

romanticize

verb

ro·​man·​ti·​cize rō-ˈmant-ə-ˌsīz 

romanticized; romanticizing

1

: to make romantic : show in a romantic way

2

: to have romantic ideas

romanticization

-ˌmant-ə-sə-ˈzā-shən 

noun