as in romanticized
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as in idolized
to represent or think of as better than reality would warrant
he had a tendency to idealize his heroes and believe they could do no wrong
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Recent Examples of idealized
Christopher Briem, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2026
After years of research into these issues, Kuittinen has collaborated with Scandinavian construction companies Aulis Lundell, Vesivek, and SSAB, to build his idealized sustainable structure.
—Annabelle Dufraigne, Architectural Digest, 24 Mar. 2026
All three demonstrate a strong combination of personality, drive, acting acumen, and a willingness to push at Victorian-era social concepts of idealized womanhood.
—Betsy Golden Kellem, JSTOR Daily, 18 Mar. 2026
This is most evident late in the picture, during an idealized recreation of the April 1969 Miami concert where Morrison was arrested for indecent exposure.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2026
But for Mann, the new militarized zone could take away some of the thrill of hiking from Mexico to Canada and the idealized ruggedness of the experience.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
The idealized version of the outdoorsman from times past essentially excluded women and people of color from the vision of who belonged outside.
—Ryleigh Nucilli, Outside, 26 Feb. 2026
His precious moments are not memories of an idealized past, nor projections of a tantalizing dream, but interventions in our complex present that reveal beautiful and unsettling layers.
—Sharon Mizota, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2026
Bomi, 23, who entered seeking his first boyfriend, found his idealized notions challenged.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
The characters are mostly idealized, the action is predictable, and its core conflicts derivative of those in the minds of most American teenagers in the middle of the 20th century.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2026
Set in a perpetually sunny, idealized England vaguely between the wars, The Code of the Woosters concerns the misadventures of man-about-town Bertie Wooster (stupid, amiable, rich) and his impeccably helpful valet Jeeves.
—Literary Hub, 14 Jan. 2026
Post-Aristotle, infinity was always idealized, never realized — a philosophical construct at best.
—Big Think, 25 Nov. 2025
For most home cooks, a once-a-year turkey is a gastronomic absurdity, needlessly idealized, inevitably formidable to prepare.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Pop culture can even play a powerful role in shaping the nation’s perception of higher education–Hollywood still leaning heavily on images of pristine lawns, students in caps and gowns, and idealized lecture halls.
—Yolanda Watson Spiva, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025
This clearly suggests that idealized online self-presentation can inflate social impressions but may create disappointment when offline reality does not match expectations.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
These values were generally shared by his employers at Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets, organisations idealized as the polar opposite of Emperor Palpatine's authoritarian dictatorship from a galaxy far, far away.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
That idealized story is based on real change in a region that suffered extraordinary structural decline when a century of dependence on heavy industry imploded in the 1970s.
—Christopher Briem, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2026
After years of research into these issues, Kuittinen has collaborated with Scandinavian construction companies Aulis Lundell, Vesivek, and SSAB, to build his idealized sustainable structure.
—Annabelle Dufraigne, Architectural Digest, 24 Mar. 2026
All three demonstrate a strong combination of personality, drive, acting acumen, and a willingness to push at Victorian-era social concepts of idealized womanhood.
—Betsy Golden Kellem, JSTOR Daily, 18 Mar. 2026
This is most evident late in the picture, during an idealized recreation of the April 1969 Miami concert where Morrison was arrested for indecent exposure.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2026
But for Mann, the new militarized zone could take away some of the thrill of hiking from Mexico to Canada and the idealized ruggedness of the experience.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
The idealized version of the outdoorsman from times past essentially excluded women and people of color from the vision of who belonged outside.
—Ryleigh Nucilli, Outside, 26 Feb. 2026
His precious moments are not memories of an idealized past, nor projections of a tantalizing dream, but interventions in our complex present that reveal beautiful and unsettling layers.
—Sharon Mizota, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2026
Bomi, 23, who entered seeking his first boyfriend, found his idealized notions challenged.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
California Adventure, at its most idealized, stood for more than an assortment of film properties.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
The characters are mostly idealized, the action is predictable, and its core conflicts derivative of those in the minds of most American teenagers in the middle of the 20th century.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2026
Set in a perpetually sunny, idealized England vaguely between the wars, The Code of the Woosters concerns the misadventures of man-about-town Bertie Wooster (stupid, amiable, rich) and his impeccably helpful valet Jeeves.
—Literary Hub, 14 Jan. 2026
Post-Aristotle, infinity was always idealized, never realized — a philosophical construct at best.
—Big Think, 25 Nov. 2025
For most home cooks, a once-a-year turkey is a gastronomic absurdity, needlessly idealized, inevitably formidable to prepare.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Pop culture can even play a powerful role in shaping the nation’s perception of higher education–Hollywood still leaning heavily on images of pristine lawns, students in caps and gowns, and idealized lecture halls.
—Yolanda Watson Spiva, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025
This clearly suggests that idealized online self-presentation can inflate social impressions but may create disappointment when offline reality does not match expectations.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
These values were generally shared by his employers at Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets, organisations idealized as the polar opposite of Emperor Palpatine's authoritarian dictatorship from a galaxy far, far away.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idealized
Adjective
-
There’s often this romanticized view of earlier eras that ignores their darker sides.—
Ivy Pochoda,
Oc Register,
5 Mar. 2026
-
While its romanticized view of the past may not be for everyone, the series excels in demonstrating da Vinci's boundless creativity, channeled through Tom Riley's cheeky, charismatic performance that brings the artist into the 21st century.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
While Willis, an Atlanta native who idolized Michael Vick growing up, attempts to downplay his mobility, the people around him, those who have coached him, view it as his superpower.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Bonzagni, who grew up a Rangers fan and idolized outfielders David Murphy, Craig Gentry and Josh Hamilton, didn’t make Carroll’s varsity team in any of his first three high school seasons.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Royal Maundy Service sees the sovereign distribute Maundy money, or special coins, to local pensioners (often retirees) in a service symbolic of Jesus washing the Apostles' feet at the last supper.—
Janine Henni,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The invitation also ties directly to America 250 celebrations, with congressional leaders highlighting the symbolic weight of the moment.—
Rena Rowe,
The Washington Examiner,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Often, fires are depicted in an overly dramatic or glamorized way, but each home represents a person’s life.—
TIME Photo Department,
Time,
23 Dec. 2025
-
My journey will be publicized and glamorized, but my evolution process is sacred to me.—
Leah Asmelash,
CNN Money,
23 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Hulu set the mood for the evening when two dozen young women, dressed in their Gilead wife-training school’s purple uniforms, walked in solemn unison down the carpet, each carrying a small pie and boarding a bus with curtains covering the windows.—
Alex Cramer,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Satellite imagery turned the abstract threat into visceral geography — terrifying technicolor maps showed a deep purple bruise spreading over the South Pole.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Metcalfe also pointed to South Korea and Thailand as examples of markets where consumption has softened, but said this was reflective of temporary adjustments rather than structural declines.—
Chloe Taylor,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Add the jalapeño and stir-fry until slightly softened, another 15 to 20 seconds.—
Kelly McCarthy,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Idealized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idealized. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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