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as in idealized
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in glamorized
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of romanticized
Desjah Altvater, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
This is one of the most romanticized memories of the '90s, often touted on social media as the good ole days, when kids used their imaginations, resolved conflicts on their own, and made their own fun unsupervised.
—Sarah Scott, Parents, 10 June 2026
Much like the lore around Richard and Sarah Warren, the lyrics play like a romanticized version of what was probably a much more problematic situation.
—Jen Chaney, Vulture, 27 May 2026
Built before the violent conquests, these conical towers have come to symbolize a romanticized vision of the heyday of Sardinia’s independence.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 May 2026
Souvenirs of a romanticized fin-de-siècle Ruritania are presented without interest or elaboration.
—Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
Souvenirs of a romanticized fin-de-siècle Ruritania are presented without interest or elaboration.
—Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2026
But the brief, costly, impractical service still became one of the most romanticized episodes in American history—a legacy wildly disproportionate to its lifespan.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026
There’s often this romanticized view of earlier eras that ignores their darker sides.
—Ivy Pochoda, Oc Register, 5 Mar. 2026
Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 13 June 2026
Now, more middle-school and high-school kids are turning their focus to digital careers in lieu of traditional jobs that have been romanticized for generations.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 9 June 2026
At the same time, delegation should not be romanticized as a universal cure for healthcare dysfunction.
—Sachin H. Jain, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Even the Second World War has been somehow romanticized in films and TV.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 17 May 2026
Caucuses are often romanticized as a crucial engine of grassroots democracy.
—Doug Friednash, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2026
To be sure, educational systems need to be reformed, not romanticized.
—Megan Thiele Strong, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026
In the fight to save Wikie and Keijo, the idea of a sanctuary is the enemy of the existing marine park — both options are still captivity, yet one is romanticized and one vilified — and more importantly one form is a fantasy, the other a reality.
—Valerie Greene, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026
Holi has also been romanticized and popularized over the decades in Bollywood films.
—ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Bebe is clear that the romanticized idea of going indie often overlooks the financial and operational realities behind it.
—Desjah Altvater, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
This is one of the most romanticized memories of the '90s, often touted on social media as the good ole days, when kids used their imaginations, resolved conflicts on their own, and made their own fun unsupervised.
—Sarah Scott, Parents, 10 June 2026
Much like the lore around Richard and Sarah Warren, the lyrics play like a romanticized version of what was probably a much more problematic situation.
—Jen Chaney, Vulture, 27 May 2026
Built before the violent conquests, these conical towers have come to symbolize a romanticized vision of the heyday of Sardinia’s independence.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 May 2026
Souvenirs of a romanticized fin-de-siècle Ruritania are presented without interest or elaboration.
—Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
Souvenirs of a romanticized fin-de-siècle Ruritania are presented without interest or elaboration.
—Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2026
But the brief, costly, impractical service still became one of the most romanticized episodes in American history—a legacy wildly disproportionate to its lifespan.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026
There’s often this romanticized view of earlier eras that ignores their darker sides.
—Ivy Pochoda, Oc Register, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
These invasions get romanticized as elite fandom, as the epitome of love for the game.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 13 June 2026
Now, more middle-school and high-school kids are turning their focus to digital careers in lieu of traditional jobs that have been romanticized for generations.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 9 June 2026
At the same time, delegation should not be romanticized as a universal cure for healthcare dysfunction.
—Sachin H. Jain, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Even the Second World War has been somehow romanticized in films and TV.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 17 May 2026
Caucuses are often romanticized as a crucial engine of grassroots democracy.
—Doug Friednash, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2026
To be sure, educational systems need to be reformed, not romanticized.
—Megan Thiele Strong, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026
In the fight to save Wikie and Keijo, the idea of a sanctuary is the enemy of the existing marine park — both options are still captivity, yet one is romanticized and one vilified — and more importantly one form is a fantasy, the other a reality.
—Valerie Greene, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026
Holi has also been romanticized and popularized over the decades in Bollywood films.
—ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for romanticized
Adjective
-
Fans were continuing to gear up for a week of celebrations that will culminate with a ticker-tape parade down the famed Canyon of Heroes in Manhattan on Thursday morning.—
Andrew Ramos,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
-
Built in 1964 by famed architect Eliot Noyes, this mid-century spot is a blast from the past.—
Kelsey Mulvey,
Vogue,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
The World Cup typically takes over its host country and turns it into FIFA’s idealized state for the four- or five-week tournament, becoming a unifying global celebration of sport.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
11 June 2026
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That is, unlike so much electronic music intended for home listening, it’s not meant to make the listener imagine an idealized dancefloor for which the music is supposedly intended.—
Philip Sherburne,
Pitchfork,
4 June 2026
Verb
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But readers have also criticized Hoover for the book and movie’s portrayal of abuse, which some argued glamorized domestic violence.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Growing up, Glaser says society glamorized not eating.—
Jenelle Riley,
Variety,
17 July 2025
Adjective
-
Each ring tells the story of a pivotal season in the team’s storied history.—
Denny Alfonso,
New York Times,
12 Dec. 2025
-
Former University of Michigan head football coach Sherrone Moore remained in jail on Thursday after his arrest hours after being dismissed as the leader of the storied program.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
11 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Then there was the pulling power of Son, Tottenham’s legendary captain.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
12 Dec. 2025
-
Salah, the third-highest scorer in the club's famed history with 250 goals, was not meant to end his legendary Liverpool career this way.—
Joe Prince-Wright,
NBC news,
11 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Percy Jackson stars Walker Scobell and Aryan Simhadri have battled mythical giant monsters, Greek gods, and more in their Disney+ action series.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Dec. 2025
-
Set in a dystopian future past, the two lovers escape to a mythical city and along the way are confronted with both terrifying figures of the unconscious and joyful memories of the past that accelerate a descent into madness.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
10 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Born Shawn Carter in Brooklyn, New York, Jay-Z turned his humble beginnings into one of the world's most fabled success stories.—
Caché McClay,
USA Today,
4 Dec. 2025
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In the United States in the 1970s, journalists at The Washington Post relied on an FBI insider—the fabled Deep Throat, later revealed to be the agency’s third in command—to reveal a multitude of crimes by President Richard Nixon and his associates.—
Susan Chira,
Foreign Affairs,
2 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Romanticized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/romanticized. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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