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

Like most Sorkin ventures, A Few Good Men romanticizes process and procedure. —Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 24 May 2025

Despite Gallot’s refusal to romanticize his workplace — indeed, because of it — his devotion paradoxically shines through. —Sadie Stein, New York Times, 15 May 2025

And there were a lot of people really romanticizing it. —Sara Belcher, People.com, 9 May 2025

That isn't to say Wilson disagrees with all stay-at-home wives or mothers, but predominantly the younger women who may not even be married or have children yet and still romanticize the aesthetic. —Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 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