romanticize
verb
ro·man·ti·cize
rō-ˈman-tə-ˌsīz 
rə-
romanticized; romanticizing
: to make romantic : treat as idealized or heroic
romanticize the past
1
: to hold romantic ideas
2
: to present details, incidents, or people in a romantic way
The book romanticized military life.
Synonyms of romanticize
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
Though winter brings shorter days and frosty weather, a trip to the slopes has a way of romanticizing the season.
—
Mecca Pryor, Essence, 8 Jan. 2026
Nothing wrong with a little fantasy, but this year’s astrology asks us to stop romanticizing potential and start paying attention to what feels genuine, reciprocal and enduring.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
Stamos quickly romanticizes the soldier’s isolation—his freedom from social expectations—and begins to dream of defecting.
—Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
There are no talking-head interviews putting addiction into a moral context, nor are there romanticized vagabonds.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for romanticize
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.
Cite this Entry
“Romanticize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/romanticize. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
