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
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
However, Neptune idealizes, which can ultimately blur boundaries, while Mercury prefers to be analytical, seeking out the facts and hard data.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 17 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
The definition of ultra-processing reflects a philosophy that idealizes traditional culinary practices and treats modern food processing methods as suspect, regardless of their health effects.
—David S. Ludwig, STAT, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for idealize
Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 28 Apr. 2026
However, Neptune idealizes, which can ultimately blur boundaries, while Mercury prefers to be analytical, seeking out the facts and hard data.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 17 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
The definition of ultra-processing reflects a philosophy that idealizes traditional culinary practices and treats modern food processing methods as suspect, regardless of their health effects.
—David S. Ludwig, STAT, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for idealize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idealize
Verb
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At the same time, delegation should not be romanticized as a universal cure for healthcare dysfunction.—
Sachin H. Jain,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
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Today’s astro-weather pushes you toward visibility, recognition and bigger opportunities, but there’s also a tendency to romanticize a future scenario without thinking through logistics and practical details.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
21 May 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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Inside, its modernist lines are softened by lush textiles and the soft curves of furnishings from Urquiola’s designs for Italian brands such as Cassina and Molteni, as well as the vertical gardens developed by botanist Patrick Blanc.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
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Reports suggest OpenAI's financials are comparatively weaker and that secondary market demand for its shares has softened—while competition for Anthropic secondary shares has been described as fierce.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Idealize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idealize. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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