as in to romanticize
to represent or think of as better than reality would warrant
he had a tendency to idealize his heroes and believe they could do no wrong
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Recent Examples of idealize
Unlike some of his artistic peers, who idealized studios and showcases in New York or Europe, Chambers never wanted to leave Altadena.
—
Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
The '90s aesthetic was eclipsed by the celebration of a different kind of celebrity − women like Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian and JLo were idealized for their curves.
—Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
The Mint Julep evokes a sense of 200 years of Southern history that is almost impossibly idealized, and nobody seems to mind.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 28 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, Les, whose supposedly normal family Lindy idealized, was nursing the failure of a GMO tomato project.
—Judy Berman, Time, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for idealize
Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
The '90s aesthetic was eclipsed by the celebration of a different kind of celebrity − women like Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian and JLo were idealized for their curves.
—Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
The Mint Julep evokes a sense of 200 years of Southern history that is almost impossibly idealized, and nobody seems to mind.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 28 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, Les, whose supposedly normal family Lindy idealized, was nursing the failure of a GMO tomato project.
—Judy Berman, Time, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for idealize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idealize
Verb
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But like its predecessor, Yellowstone, the series also romanticizes the industry, pairing authentic ranching challenges with larger-than-life drama.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
6 June 2026
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College football has a habit of romanticizing the past in ways that don’t match the actual results.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
4 June 2026
Verb
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The first name that caught his eye was Nicklas Lidstrom, the great Detroit Red Wing, whom Werenski idolized as a boy growing up in Michigan.—
Aaron Portzline,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
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As a child Modrić idolized the Yugoslav (later Croatian) footballer Zvonimir Boban.—
Sanat Pai Raikar,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Where Bonnie and Clyde glamorizes its couple and their crimes, Loden renders Wanda passive and desultory in the lawless turn her life has taken.—
Air Mail,
Air Mail,
23 May 2026
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The plot is high-class soap opera, offered at a time when most composers were avoiding any subject that glamorized the bourgeoisie.—
Russell Platt,
New Yorker,
20 May 2026
Verb
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In addition to eliminating subsidies, the White House softened Biden- and Obama-era regulations designed to push traditional automakers into offering more EVs by toughening tailpipe emission standards.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
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To soften the impact of the trash fee reduction, city officials plan to send $22 million from the recycling fund to the general fund in both fiscal 2028 and fiscal 2029.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Idealize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idealize. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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