idealizing

verb

present participle of idealize
as in romanticizing
to represent or think of as better than reality would warrant he had a tendency to idealize his heroes and believe they could do no wrong

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of idealizing These lines reveal the perspective of someone who has been immersed in one medium for too long and is now busy idealizing another. — Michael O’Donnell, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026 The new fad of tradwife influencers idealizing a time before women had the right to vote is evidence enough. — Literary Hub, 20 May 2026 Nothing wrong with idealizing and daydreaming, but to a certain extent. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026 Neptune can blur boundaries, so be mindful of overcommitting or idealizing people who have not shown consistency yet. — Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 25 Jan. 2026 Teens are already blocked from repeatedly viewing videos that could send them down dangerous content rabbit holes, such as those idealizing certain body types. — Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 14 Jan. 2026 There’s no wishful thinking that our society will stop idealizing appearance, but framing and intrinsic motivation matter. — Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 8 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idealizing
  1. romanticizing
  2. idolizing
  3. glamorizing
  4. softening
Verb
  • Today’s Leo solar eclipse asks you to quit romanticizing self-sacrifice.
    — USA TODAY, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Your book is accused by some Chinese audiences of romanticizing colonialism, or of being an example of colonial nostalgia literature.
    — Jan Camenzind Broomby, NPR, 29 July 2026
Definition of romanticizing
Verb
  • Reading the book feels refreshing — a clarifying antidote to a culture increasingly obsessed with idolizing and leveraging suffering.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Fothergill, who grew up in Minnesota idolizing Moss, said his partner held his own on the water, using forward-facing sonar to locate fish sitting 70 to 90 feet deep.
    — Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of idolizing
Verb
  • Even in the wake of the body positivity movement from the past few years, researchers are concerned about a cultural swing back to glamorizing thin-ness, pointing to the popularity – and possible misuse – of GLP-1s.
    — Sam Woodward, USA Today, 1 May 2026
  • Novels like Rachel Yoder’s Nightbitch depict the surreal and alienating days of early parenthood with an eye to de-glamorizing the post-partum experience.
    — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026
Definition of glamorizing
Verb
  • From removing stubborn stains to softening scratchy towels, vinegar consistently tackles the problems that detergents and fabric softeners sometimes leave behind.
    — Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Meanwhile, the vitamins, delivered via skin-softening plant oils, help moisturize and firm the skin.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of softening

Browse Nearby Words

idealizes
idealizing
idealless
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Cite this Entry

“Idealizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idealizing. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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