romanticize

especially British, ro·man·ti·cise

[roh-man-tuh-sahyz]

verb (used with object)

romanticized, romanticizing 

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

   Many people romanticize the role of an editor.

verb (used without object)

romanticized, romanticizing 

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

Other Word Forms

• romanticization noun
• overromanticize verb
• unromanticized adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of romanticize¹

First recorded in 1810–20; romantic + -ize

Example Sentences

It’s a shocking moment and a clear sign that “Urchin” has no intention of romanticizing Mike or actively eliciting our sympathies.

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But the vision of a woman enduring misery to “protect” her baby is romanticized by the right — even if the suffering would, in this case, only risk the health of the baby.

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Few body parts are romanticized in song and literature or studied to ascertain someone’s true intentions.

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Sweeney’s observations about this duality, as seen through O’Brien’s characters, dilute the romanticized notion that having an identical double shields a person from isolation.

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She cited festivals in mission towns, such as Santa Barbara’s Old Spanish Days Fiesta, where people dress up like the Californios of yore to remember a romanticized era that was destined to end badly.

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Related Words

• glamorize 
• idealize 
• sentimentalize