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
The Oath Keepers romanticize the role of armed militias in the founding of America as seen at Lexington and Concord.
—
Art Jipson, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2025
The world has come to romanticize the start-up — the hectic days and long nights of taking an idea, building it into a business and standing it up on its own.
—Evan Clark, WWD, 27 Feb. 2025
Apocalypse Now might fit into that Truffaut problem that sometimes is identified with war films, which is that cinema likes to romanticize and seduce.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2025
Unlike other shows about the elite, The White Lotus doesn't romanticize luxury.
—Kevin Sabet, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for romanticize
Art Jipson, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2025
The world has come to romanticize the start-up — the hectic days and long nights of taking an idea, building it into a business and standing it up on its own.
—Evan Clark, WWD, 27 Feb. 2025
Apocalypse Now might fit into that Truffaut problem that sometimes is identified with war films, which is that cinema likes to romanticize and seduce.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2025
Unlike other shows about the elite, The White Lotus doesn't romanticize luxury.
—Kevin Sabet, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for romanticize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for romanticize
Verb
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The ‘Pedestal Problem’ Being idealized to a certain extent can feel validating, especially when a partner admires your kindness, intelligence or other meaningful qualities.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
26 Apr. 2025
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For more than a decade, cutting down on meat and other animal products has been idealized as a healthier, more ethical way to eat.—
Yasmin Tayag,
The Atlantic,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Unlike stories that glamorize drinking or reduce it to a trope, my novel brings authenticity and emotional depth to the subject.—
Jessica Guerrieri,
People.com,
9 May 2025
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Some people glamorized certain revolutionary kinds of characters willing to resort to violence.—
Gary Graff,
Billboard,
17 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Romanticize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/romanticize. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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