romanticize

/roʊˌmæntəˈsaɪz/

/rəʊˈmæntɛsaɪz/

Other forms: romanticized; romanticizing; romanticizes

To romanticize is either to put a positive spin on something that wasn’t great or to behave in a romantic way. If you’re sea sick on a cruise and spend the whole time clutching the railing but later say it was the best trip ever, you have romanticized your experience.

To romanticize can mean to act in a way that lends itself to romance, such as by buying flowers or making goo-goo eyes. A more common meaning has less to do with romance, but also involves wearing rose-colored glasses. If you romanticize war, you're making it sound like a glorious, beautiful thing. To romanticize is to interpret things that are not glamorous in a glamorous way.

Definitions of romanticize

1. verb

   interpret romantically
   “Don't romanticize this uninteresting and hard work!”

   synonyms: glamorize, glamourise, romanticise

   type of:

   idealise, idealize

   consider or render as ideal
2. verb

   make romantic in style
   “The designer romanticized the little black dress”

   synonyms: romanticise

   type of:

   alter, change, modify

   cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
3. verb

   act in a romantic way
   type of:

   act, behave, do

   behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself