romanticise
Definition
- Verb (transitive):
- To describe, portray, or think about something in an idealized, unrealistic, or excessively sentimental way, often by emphasizing its positive, exciting, or picturesque aspects while ignoring its mundane, difficult, or negative realities.
- To give something a romantic character or quality; to make something seem more appealing or mysterious than it really is.
Usage
- The verb romanticise (also spelled ) is used to describe the act of presenting a subject in an idealized light.
- It often carries a slightly negative or critical connotation, suggesting a distortion of reality.
- It can be used with a direct object (transitively) to indicate what is being idealized.
Examples
- Transitive Verb:
- Many historical novels romanticise the past, ignoring the harsh living conditions of the era.
- He tends to romanticise his time at university, forgetting how stressful the exams were.
- The film romanticises the life of a struggling artist, making poverty seem charming.
Advanced Usage
- "to romanticise about something": To indulge in romantic thoughts or fantasies about a subject.
- She often romanticises about living in a remote cottage, though she knows it would be very isolating.
Variants and Related Words
- Romanticisation (noun): The act or process of romanticising.
- The romanticisation of war in popular culture is a dangerous trend.
- Romanticised (adjective): Described or portrayed in an idealized way.
- The book offers a romanticised view of rural life.
Synonyms
- Idealise: To regard or represent as perfect or better than in reality.
- Glorify: To describe or represent as admirable, especially unjustifiably.
- Sentimentalise: To treat, consider, or present in a sentimental or overly emotional way.
Antonyms
- Demystify: To make something less mysterious or idealized.
- Debunk: To expose the falseness or hollowness of a myth or idealized belief.
- Realistically portray: To depict something in a practical, truthful manner.
Related Phrases/Idioms
- To view/see through rose-tinted/rose-colored glasses: An idiom meaning to see only the pleasant aspects of a situation and ignore the problems; very similar in meaning to .
- You're seeing your childhood through rose-tinted glasses; it wasn't all fun and games.
Verb
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make romantic in style
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The designer romanticized the little black dress
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interpret romantically
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Don't romanticize this uninteresting and hard work!
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