romanticize

[ roh-man-tuh-sahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, ro·man·ti·cized, ro·man·ti·ciz·ing.

1. to make romantic; invest with a romantic character:

   Many people romanticize the role of an editor.

verb (used without object)

, ro·man·ti·cized, ro·man·ti·ciz·ing.

1. to hold romantic notions, ideas, etc.

romanticize

/ rəʊˈmæntɪˌsaɪz /

verb

1. intr to think or act in a romantic way
2. tr to interpret according to romantic precepts
3. to make or become romantic, as in style

Derived Forms

• roˌmanticiˈzation, noun

Other Words From

• ro·manti·ci·zation noun
• over·ro·manti·cize verb overromanticized overromanticizing
• unro·manti·cized adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of romanticize¹

First recorded in 1810–20; romantic + -ize

Example Sentences

The fluffy dresses and elaborate dances are about romanticizing a dehumanizing view of women, in which they are male property, whose only value is in being a sex object.

From Salon

It's easy to romanticize the lives we see on TV.

From Salon

She veers off the prescribed material to inject a sense of rosy fantasy into her lessons, including romanticizing Spain’s fascist leader Francisco Franco along with Italy’s dictator Benito Mussolini.

From Salon

Despite the popularity of "Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story," Murphy still received backlash for "romanticizing" a story about a man who killed 17 men and boys.

From Salon

Ribbons are easy to romanticize, especially as we exit Brat Summer, where Charli XCX’s “Everything Is Romantic” has served as the sonic partner to the resurgence of ballet flats, puffy skirts and, yes, ribbons.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• glamorize
• idealize
• sentimentalize