as in to idealize
to represent or think of as better than reality would warrant
he romanticized what life in a small town would be like, only to be later disappointed when reality intruded
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Recent Examples of romanticize
These beliefs can make women more likely to excuse or romanticize emotional immaturity in men in the personal and professional realms alike.
—
Ximena Araya-Fischel, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
Put simply, the revisionist Western steers away from, or plays against, formula, refusing to romanticize the Old West or depict it as a place with clear good guys and bad guys.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 18 July 2025
This Venus return in Gemini urges us to romanticize the film's nostalgia and discuss it with friends.
—Lisa Stardust, People.com, 2 July 2025
Some writers and economists say that romanticizing this one particular sector of the economy is more about nostalgia or political pandering than rational thinking about what will best serve workers and the economy.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for romanticize
Ximena Araya-Fischel, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
Put simply, the revisionist Western steers away from, or plays against, formula, refusing to romanticize the Old West or depict it as a place with clear good guys and bad guys.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 18 July 2025
This Venus return in Gemini urges us to romanticize the film's nostalgia and discuss it with friends.
—Lisa Stardust, People.com, 2 July 2025
Some writers and economists say that romanticizing this one particular sector of the economy is more about nostalgia or political pandering than rational thinking about what will best serve workers and the economy.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for romanticize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for romanticize
Verb
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But research on romantic beliefs suggests that idealizing a partner can actually predict greater disappointment over time, especially when initial chemistry masks incompatible values, true friendship or aligned long-term goals.—
Ximena Araya-Fischel,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
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But with Jupiter squaring Saturn and Neptune around this time, be wary of idealizing your daily routine or overbooking your energy.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
29 May 2025
Verb
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Beyond the Lab Naming the Dead doesn’t glamorize the work.—
Tony Bradley,
Forbes.com,
2 Aug. 2025
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Cutting gluten has been glamorized as a quick fix for weight loss, bloating or inflammation.—
Hannah Yasharoff,
USA Today,
28 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Romanticize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/romanticize. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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