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

The Lesson Travels Beyond Football For anyone who leads an organization, the temptation is to read Argentina and conclude that suffering itself is the asset—to manufacture urgency, glorify overwork, or romanticize crisis. — Luis E. Romero, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Many aspects of life in the Soviet Union have come to be retroactively romanticized; its grocery stores are not among them. — Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 6 July 2026

In addition to softening and romanticizing looks, these bottoms are extremely comfortable. — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 4 July 2026

Ethereal and naturally whimsical, this sandal is giving beach day, daydreams and romanticizing summer, which is very Pisces. — Hedy Phillips, PEOPLE, 22 June 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