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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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 romanticize His newfound precarity is not romanticized, it is presented as the necessary alternative to a less suitable path. Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 29 Aug. 2025 In the lyrics, Swift romanticizes the little things in a relationship. Daniela Avila, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025 There is a tendency to romanticize professional sports. Troy Renck, Denver Post, 22 Aug. 2025 The twilight zone frequency of the city is easy to romanticize. Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for romanticize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for romanticize
Verb
  • Beginning around the mid-19th century, middle-class Americans began to idealize the velvety green grass of European manor houses, according to the Smithsonian Institution.
    Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
  • The film doesn’t idealize the president as a man of unhesitating certainties.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Beyond the Lab Naming the Dead doesn’t glamorize the work.
    Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2025
  • Cutting gluten has been glamorized as a quick fix for weight loss, bloating or inflammation.
    Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 28 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Romanticize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/romanticize. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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