as in romanticized
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of idealized
R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
The idealized image drawn from legend shows Washington praying as a golden light illuminates him and his white horse, during the winter of 1777-8, at a time of uncertainty for the American Revolution.
—Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 15 May 2026
As a result, an idealized future of the NBA emerged in the present.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 9 May 2026
That said, the idealized family was a central piece of American rhetoric in the middle of the 20th century – as was religion.
—Samira Mehta, The Conversation, 6 May 2026
But the fact that the movie cuts back to the staff poring over pages without ever mentioning a social-media plan, a digital breakout post, or how the video shoot of this interview will be Ginsu-ed into TikTok clips tells you how stuck in the idealized past Prada 2 is.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Apr. 2026
And while downtown Bentonville is presented as an idealized small town of the past, the city’s building boom and traffic jams point to a rural past that no longer exists.
—Steve Lackmeyer, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Its last transit, 1943–1957, unfolded during and after World War II, when society longed for peace, harmony and idealized relationships.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
Padmavati comes to represent idealized or divine beauty, Ratansen the seeker, and his journey a spiritual quest, reframing the story beyond its historical context.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2026
Emilie Hardman, JSTOR Daily, 6 May 2026
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
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
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
Adjective
One of her specialties is Norman Rockwell paintings, bringing the illustrator’s idealized visions of American culture to life.
—R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
The idealized image drawn from legend shows Washington praying as a golden light illuminates him and his white horse, during the winter of 1777-8, at a time of uncertainty for the American Revolution.
—Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 15 May 2026
As a result, an idealized future of the NBA emerged in the present.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 9 May 2026
That said, the idealized family was a central piece of American rhetoric in the middle of the 20th century – as was religion.
—Samira Mehta, The Conversation, 6 May 2026
But the fact that the movie cuts back to the staff poring over pages without ever mentioning a social-media plan, a digital breakout post, or how the video shoot of this interview will be Ginsu-ed into TikTok clips tells you how stuck in the idealized past Prada 2 is.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Apr. 2026
And while downtown Bentonville is presented as an idealized small town of the past, the city’s building boom and traffic jams point to a rural past that no longer exists.
—Steve Lackmeyer, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Its last transit, 1943–1957, unfolded during and after World War II, when society longed for peace, harmony and idealized relationships.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
Padmavati comes to represent idealized or divine beauty, Ratansen the seeker, and his journey a spiritual quest, reframing the story beyond its historical context.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2026
Verb
The figures aren’t necessarily idealized forms though.
—Emilie Hardman, JSTOR Daily, 6 May 2026
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idealized
Adjective
-
Built before the violent conquests, these conical towers have come to symbolize a romanticized vision of the heyday of Sardinia’s independence.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
7 May 2026
-
Souvenirs of a romanticized fin-de-siècle Ruritania are presented without interest or elaboration.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Those traits historically idolized as feminine frailties (or diagnosed as feminine neuroses) are here reenvisioned as sources of extraordinary talent.—
Caroline Lillian Schopp,
Artforum,
13 May 2026
-
Still, Fonseca idolized Kuerten so much that the teen once tried a one-handed backhand.—
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
The summit did not happen, with Aoun saying a security deal needed to be in place and Israeli attacks needed to end before such a landmark symbolic meeting.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
-
Advocates and some council members have expressed concerns that the new rules may be symbolic and unenforceable.—
Finch Walker,
USA Today,
13 May 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
-
Purple-striped are large silvery white with deep purple bands.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado,
Sacbee.com,
20 May 2026
-
Georgia is much more purple and has two Democratic senators.—
Domenico Montanaro,
NPR,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
In a small dry skillet, roast onion and jalapeño over medium, turning once or twice, until softened and browned in spots, 8 to 10 minutes.—
Rick Bayless,
Midwest Living,
13 May 2026
-
The question is why the resale market softened in the first place.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Idealized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idealized. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
