stylize

1 of 2

verb

styl·​ize ˈstī(-ə)-ˌlīz 

stylized; stylizing

transitive verb

: to conform to a conventional style

specifically : to represent or design according to a style or stylistic pattern rather than according to nature or tradition

stylization

ˌstī-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

stylization

2 of 2

noun

styl·​iza·​tion

variants also British stylisation

ˌstīlə̇ˈzāshən, 

-ˌlīˈz-

plural -s

1

: the quality or state of being stylized

2

: an act or instance of stylizing

Examples of stylize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The director famously walked out of Oliver Stone’s 1994 film Natural Born Killers, which was heavily rewritten and aggressively stylized. — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2026

It’s highly stylized, with metatheatrical trappings and very intense, complicated design. — Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026

In the Archaic period, long hair was considered fashionable, while later, in the Classical period, shorter, stylized hair became the trend. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026

For much of history, only notable figures were expected to have stylized signatures, Thornton said. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

International Scientific Vocabulary stylize + -ation

First Known Use

Verb

1898, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for stylize

• advise
• applies
• apprise
• arise
• assize
• baptize
• belies
• bitwise
• capsize
• chastise
• chordwise
• clockwise

Kids Definition

stylize

verb

styl·​ize ˈstī(ə)l-ˌīz 

stylized; stylizing

: to represent or design according to a style or pattern rather than according to nature or tradition