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Definition of romanticize

romanticize

/roʊˈmæn.tɪ.saɪz/
(UK: romanticise)
ro · man · ti · cize
Adverb:romantically
•
Adjective:romantic
•
Past Simple:romanticized
•
Past Participle:romanticized
•
Present Participle:romanticizing
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romanticize Lexical Profile

romanticize Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To deal with or describe something in an idealized or unrealistic fashion, making it seem better or more appealing than it actually is.

Example

"Historians warn that we should not romanticize the harsh living conditions of the nineteenth-century frontier."

2

To indulge in romantic or overly sentimental thoughts, ideas, or interpretations.

Example

"In his youth, the poet tended to romanticize about wandering the countryside without a care in the world."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for romanticize
Antonyms
View all antonyms for romanticize

• Rhymes for romanticize

• Nearby Words

romanticism
romanticist
romanticization
romanticize
romcom
rome
romeo

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the early 19th century from the adjective 'romantic' and the verb-forming suffix '-ize', ultimately tracing back to the Old French 'romanz', which originally referred to verse narratives written in the vernacular Romance language rather than Latin.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Romanticize. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/romanticize
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