IDEALIZATION Synonyms: 35 Similar and Opposite Words

idealization

noun

Definition of idealization

as in romanticization

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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 idealization Neptune, on the other hand, is the planet of dreams, illusions, spirituality, idealization, confusion and surrender. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 June 2026 Whether that’s true or just an idealization is beside the point; such stories serve as an enormous source of pride and identity. — IEEE Spectrum, 7 May 2026 The student had an extensive social media presence that showed an idealization of other school shooters and an affinity for antisemitic and Nazi ideologies. — Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 16 Mar. 2026 Officials censored, revised, and rewrote theater repertoire to remove any idealization of the pre-revolutionary past and add content that glorified Soviet rule. — Yegor Mostovshikov, The Dial, 9 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for idealization

Noun

It is characterized by a romanticization of traditional elite academia, references to classic literature, and a mysterious atmosphere.

— Sophia Zhang, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 July 2026
The romanticization of the uncorrupted mother continent took over.

— Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026

Definition of romanticization

Noun

This is what gives the film its experiential sincerity — the lived perspective of its Ukrainian crew leaving a nonfictional trace across every level of the fiction, something Stever handles with unusual reverence.

— Sonya Vseliubska, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2026
Hubbard told guests at the Coronado Club that his movement leans on both science and reverence.

— Michelle Lhooq, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of reverence

Noun

His death sparked an outpouring of adoration from his Sopranos’ castmates, among others.

— Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 1 Aug. 2026
One, a delight for the kitchen — the pressure, the camaraderie, the artist's heart, the pirate's adoration of heat and knives — and, another, hard drugs.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 July 2026

Definition of adoration

Noun

Declinism, on the other hand, is an unrealistic glorification of the past coupled with the belief that things are steadily going downhill.

— Markham Heid, Time, 8 July 2026
Right-wing incidents included conspiracy theories, glorification of the Nazi regime, and calls for a repeat of the Holocaust.

— Toby Axelrod, Sun Sentinel, 22 June 2026

Definition of glorification

Noun

In criticism, everything counts, including the obvious, and Nolan’s film positively invites the comparison, dressing itself—in spite of its deference to current mass-market sensibilities—in the dignity of a classic.

— Richard Brody, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026
So, in that regard, there is a lot of deference given to the executive branch to reach those determinations, including determinations that may be policy driven.

— Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of deference

Noun

But if your disco cabinets are just a bit too much for your liking, take the doors off completely for a fresh look.

— Barbara Bellesi Zito, The Spruce, 5 Aug. 2026
As a result, staff undergo extensive training, learning to guide customers through choosing a whiskey to their liking, within their price range.

— Don Tse, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of liking

Browse Nearby Words

idealists

idealization

idealizations

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Style

“Idealization.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idealization. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of idealization

noun

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