romanticize

verb

rō-ˈman-tə-ˌsīz How to pronounce romanticize (audio)
Definition of romanticizenext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 YouTube | Overcast | Pocket Casts Gen Z has romanticized the technology of the ’90s—or the era’s lack of it. — Jinae West, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026 Neil remembers everything, and doesn’t repress it so much as romanticize it, chasing older men who might replicate that feeling. — Joshua Encinias, IndieWire, 10 Aug. 2026 This is not meant to romanticize suffering or suggest pain is something anyone wants. — Simone Lundquist, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 On that note, consider this an opportunity to romanticize your wardrobe and bring a little more charm to your closet. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for romanticize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for romanticize
  1. idealize
  2. glamorize
Verb
  • Gen Z’s frustration with wealth concentration is well-documented culturally, yet the #OldMoney aesthetic idealizes the visual language of precisely the fortune-building class its politics often criticize.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • In these photographs, the maternal body enters spaces designed around seduction, aspiration, and idealized femininity without renouncing any of them.
    — Alessia Glaviano, Vogue, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of idealize
Verb
  • Beyond post-pandemic freedom, the recent rave explosion can also be credited to BRAT, Charli XCX’s 2024 album that glamorized raving as an It Girl activity.
    — Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 15 July 2026
  • The film neither glamorizes nor indicts Solanas, who Taylor humanizes without softening or sentimentalizing her.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 10 June 2026
Definition of glamorize

Browse Nearby Words

romanticizations
romanticize
romanticized
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Romanticize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/romanticize. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All