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
Unlike other shows about the elite, The White Lotus doesn't romanticize luxury.
—
Kevin Sabet, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025
The federal government removed Union troops from southern states as southerners erected monuments to former Confederates and slaveholders to romanticize their exploits during the Civil War.
—Russell Contreras, Axios, 30 Mar. 2025
And in its day, the movie did well, but we were criticized for romanticizing the time.
—Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 21 Mar. 2025
Nail enthusiasts are familiar with the high that comes with romanticizing those fun designs and mixing and matching bright colors for the upcoming season, so why not indulge in those good feels now?
—Audrey Noble, Vogue, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for romanticize
Kevin Sabet, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025
The federal government removed Union troops from southern states as southerners erected monuments to former Confederates and slaveholders to romanticize their exploits during the Civil War.
—Russell Contreras, Axios, 30 Mar. 2025
And in its day, the movie did well, but we were criticized for romanticizing the time.
—Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 21 Mar. 2025
Nail enthusiasts are familiar with the high that comes with romanticizing those fun designs and mixing and matching bright colors for the upcoming season, so why not indulge in those good feels now?
—Audrey Noble, Vogue, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for romanticize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for romanticize
Verb
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Only idealized systems that involve infinity—an infinitely long tape, an infinitely extensive grid of particles, an infinitely divisible space for placing pinballs and rubber ducks—can be truly undecidable.—
Charlie Wood,
Wired News,
6 Apr. 2025
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And these heroes, slightly idealized but by no means infallible versions of the ones who exist in real hospitals, keep showing up, shift after endless shift, to keep pushing that rock up the hill.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Some people glamorized certain revolutionary kinds of characters willing to resort to violence.—
Gary Graff,
Billboard,
17 Apr. 2025
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The pandemic shined a light on the high cost of child care, while recent social media trends have glamorized a more traditional view of the stay-at-home wife and mother.—
Jennifer Liu,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Romanticize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/romanticize. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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