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
There’s no wishful thinking that our society will stop idealizing appearance, but framing and intrinsic motivation matter.
—
Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 8 Oct. 2025
There’s a fine line between being crystal clear and idealizing a situation.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025
This clearly suggests that idealized online self-presentation can inflate social impressions but may create disappointment when offline reality does not match expectations.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Despite millennials’ push for greater diversity on the runway and more inclusive sizing in denim collections, there’s a growing shift back toward campaigns that idealize ultra-thin bodies and pale skin.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for idealize
Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 8 Oct. 2025
There’s a fine line between being crystal clear and idealizing a situation.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025
This clearly suggests that idealized online self-presentation can inflate social impressions but may create disappointment when offline reality does not match expectations.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Despite millennials’ push for greater diversity on the runway and more inclusive sizing in denim collections, there’s a growing shift back toward campaigns that idealize ultra-thin bodies and pale skin.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for idealize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idealize
Verb
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Stamos quickly romanticizes the soldier’s isolation—his freedom from social expectations—and begins to dream of defecting.—
Rachel Vorona Cote,
The Atlantic,
5 Jan. 2026
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There are no talking-head interviews putting addiction into a moral context, nor are there romanticized vagabonds.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Her polished fashion sense, marked by sophisticated, minimalist pieces and a neutral color palette, has been idolized even decades after her death.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
31 Dec. 2025
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But in October 2024, Vladimir Kramnik, a former Russian World Chess Champion who Naroditsky grew up idolizing, began publicly insinuating that Naroditsky might be using computer assistance during online games.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
18 Dec. 2025
Verb
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As debate intensified online over whether the show could glorify or glamorize Combs, the discussion spilled into the comments section of Zeus CEO Lemuel Plummer’s social media, prompting him to clarify the network’s intent.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Dec. 2025
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Often, fires are depicted in an overly dramatic or glamorized way, but each home represents a person’s life.—
TIME Photo Department,
Time,
23 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Each of the eight luxurious scents is packed with softening coconut oil and shea butter.—
Kaitlin Clapinski,
InStyle,
11 Jan. 2026
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Fischer especially recommends making sound-softening updates in rooms with higher ceilings, open layouts, and hardwood flooring, all of which can amplify echo and reverb.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Idealize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idealize. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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