romanticize

verb

ro·​man·​ti·​cize rō-ˈman-tə-ˌsīz 

rə-

romanticized; romanticizing

transitive verb

: to make romantic : treat as idealized or heroic

romanticize the past

intransitive verb

1

: to hold romantic ideas

2

: to present details, incidents, or people in a romantic way

romanticization

rō-ˌman-tə-sə-ˈzā-shən 

rə-

noun

Synonyms

• glamorize
• glamourize
• glamour (up)
• glorify
• idealize

Examples of romanticize in a Sentence

He has romanticized notions of army life.

a romanticized view of politics

We were romanticizing about the past.

Recent Examples on the Web

Photo: Laure Joliet Naturally, romanticizing a cozy, coastal life doesn’t have to stop at your closet. —Sydney Gore, Architectural Digest, 21 Feb. 2025

While creatives will romanticize denim fashion, there’s still a large market demand a balance of style and function. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 7 Jan. 2025

But as with most beloved pop culture moments, fans intensely romanticize it more than those who were actually involved. —Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 25 Dec. 2024

Mobsters like Capone and Moran have been romanticized in popular culture, and the still-unsolved crime has invited amateur sleuths to study up. —Sarah Holzmann, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for romanticize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize

Kids Definition

romanticize

verb

ro·​man·​ti·​cize rō-ˈmant-ə-ˌsīz 

romanticized; romanticizing

1

: to make romantic : show in a romantic way

2

: to have romantic ideas

romanticization

-ˌmant-ə-sə-ˈzā-shən 

noun