romanticize

American  

[roh-man-tuh-sahyz] / roʊˈmæn təˌsaɪz /

especially British, romanticise

verb (used with object)

romanticized, romanticizing

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

   Many people romanticize the role of an editor.

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verb (used without object)

romanticized, romanticizing

1. to hold romantic notions, ideas, etc.

romanticize British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• overromanticize verb
• romanticization noun
• unromanticized adjective

Etymology

Origin of romanticize

First recorded in 1810–20; romantic + -ize

Example Sentences

Pop-psychology dispatches with ominous titles like “Gen Zers who romanticize yearning will likely learn these 5 things the hard way” suggest that there is perhaps too much yearning going on.

From Salon • Feb. 21, 2026

"It's fascinating that something hundreds of years old could so closely match what is around today and contrast so much with what people romanticize the past landscape to be."

From Science Daily • Feb. 1, 2026

In an interview, he said: “It’s easy to romanticize the golden days.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 29, 2025

I still romanticize the idea of living here — looking up every day and seeing the Hollywood sign.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 6, 2024

It is important to keep in mind, though, that many rappers and hip-hop artists do not aim to glorify or romanticize gangsta life or culture.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

Related Words

• glamorize
• idealize
• sentimentalize