as in romanticized
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as in idolized
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 idealized
Christopher Briem, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2026
After years of research into these issues, Kuittinen has collaborated with Scandinavian construction companies Aulis Lundell, Vesivek, and SSAB, to build his idealized sustainable structure.
—Annabelle Dufraigne, Architectural Digest, 24 Mar. 2026
All three demonstrate a strong combination of personality, drive, acting acumen, and a willingness to push at Victorian-era social concepts of idealized womanhood.
—Betsy Golden Kellem, JSTOR Daily, 18 Mar. 2026
This is most evident late in the picture, during an idealized recreation of the April 1969 Miami concert where Morrison was arrested for indecent exposure.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2026
But for Mann, the new militarized zone could take away some of the thrill of hiking from Mexico to Canada and the idealized ruggedness of the experience.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
The idealized version of the outdoorsman from times past essentially excluded women and people of color from the vision of who belonged outside.
—Ryleigh Nucilli, Outside, 26 Feb. 2026
His precious moments are not memories of an idealized past, nor projections of a tantalizing dream, but interventions in our complex present that reveal beautiful and unsettling layers.
—Sharon Mizota, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2026
Bomi, 23, who entered seeking his first boyfriend, found his idealized notions challenged.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
Martha Ross, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
Practices often idealized for their organic nature can still have environmental impacts if they are not properly implemented.
—Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
California Adventure, at its most idealized, stood for more than an assortment of film properties.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
The characters are mostly idealized, the action is predictable, and its core conflicts derivative of those in the minds of most American teenagers in the middle of the 20th century.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2026
Set in a perpetually sunny, idealized England vaguely between the wars, The Code of the Woosters concerns the misadventures of man-about-town Bertie Wooster (stupid, amiable, rich) and his impeccably helpful valet Jeeves.
—Literary Hub, 14 Jan. 2026
Post-Aristotle, infinity was always idealized, never realized — a philosophical construct at best.
—Big Think, 25 Nov. 2025
For most home cooks, a once-a-year turkey is a gastronomic absurdity, needlessly idealized, inevitably formidable to prepare.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Pop culture can even play a powerful role in shaping the nation’s perception of higher education–Hollywood still leaning heavily on images of pristine lawns, students in caps and gowns, and idealized lecture halls.
—Yolanda Watson Spiva, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
That idealized story is based on real change in a region that suffered extraordinary structural decline when a century of dependence on heavy industry imploded in the 1970s.
—Christopher Briem, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2026
After years of research into these issues, Kuittinen has collaborated with Scandinavian construction companies Aulis Lundell, Vesivek, and SSAB, to build his idealized sustainable structure.
—Annabelle Dufraigne, Architectural Digest, 24 Mar. 2026
All three demonstrate a strong combination of personality, drive, acting acumen, and a willingness to push at Victorian-era social concepts of idealized womanhood.
—Betsy Golden Kellem, JSTOR Daily, 18 Mar. 2026
This is most evident late in the picture, during an idealized recreation of the April 1969 Miami concert where Morrison was arrested for indecent exposure.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2026
But for Mann, the new militarized zone could take away some of the thrill of hiking from Mexico to Canada and the idealized ruggedness of the experience.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
The idealized version of the outdoorsman from times past essentially excluded women and people of color from the vision of who belonged outside.
—Ryleigh Nucilli, Outside, 26 Feb. 2026
His precious moments are not memories of an idealized past, nor projections of a tantalizing dream, but interventions in our complex present that reveal beautiful and unsettling layers.
—Sharon Mizota, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2026
Bomi, 23, who entered seeking his first boyfriend, found his idealized notions challenged.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
These observations come the day after Meghan posted idealized, influencer-style images of her children celebrating Easter by running around their lush Montecito garden, hunting for Easter eggs.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
Practices often idealized for their organic nature can still have environmental impacts if they are not properly implemented.
—Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
California Adventure, at its most idealized, stood for more than an assortment of film properties.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
The characters are mostly idealized, the action is predictable, and its core conflicts derivative of those in the minds of most American teenagers in the middle of the 20th century.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2026
Set in a perpetually sunny, idealized England vaguely between the wars, The Code of the Woosters concerns the misadventures of man-about-town Bertie Wooster (stupid, amiable, rich) and his impeccably helpful valet Jeeves.
—Literary Hub, 14 Jan. 2026
Post-Aristotle, infinity was always idealized, never realized — a philosophical construct at best.
—Big Think, 25 Nov. 2025
For most home cooks, a once-a-year turkey is a gastronomic absurdity, needlessly idealized, inevitably formidable to prepare.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Pop culture can even play a powerful role in shaping the nation’s perception of higher education–Hollywood still leaning heavily on images of pristine lawns, students in caps and gowns, and idealized lecture halls.
—Yolanda Watson Spiva, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idealized
Adjective
-
But the brief, costly, impractical service still became one of the most romanticized episodes in American history—a legacy wildly disproportionate to its lifespan.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 Apr. 2026
-
There’s often this romanticized view of earlier eras that ignores their darker sides.—
Ivy Pochoda,
Oc Register,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The kid in question was Dustin Pedroia, who Murphy coached at Arizona State from 2002-04, and who Durbin idolized growing up.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
7 Apr. 2026
-
While Willis, an Atlanta native who idolized Michael Vick growing up, attempts to downplay his mobility, the people around him, those who have coached him, view it as his superpower.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Part of the pressure stems from the symbolic weight placed on wedding imagery.—
Sara Radin,
Vogue,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The Israel Defense Forces continued its invasion of southern Lebanon, with a fierce battle raging in the highly symbolic town of Bint Jbeil.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
My journey will be publicized and glamorized, but my evolution process is sacred to me.—
Leah Asmelash,
CNN Money,
23 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Democrats saw gains in red, blue and purple counties when compared to another judicial race last year, which was also won by the liberal candidate.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Starter Kyle Freeland was nails, and Willi Castro and Mickey Moniak both slipped on the celebratory purple faux fur coat after launching home runs.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Richter’s market has proved durable even as demand for postwar painting has softened at the top end.—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The light softened toward sunset, an evening echo of the same violet sky that hovered over Julian at the start of the day.—
Josh Jackson,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Idealized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idealized. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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