Glamorize: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when portraying something as more attractive, exciting, or appealing than it really is, often in a superficial or misleading way. Can have a negative connotation.

• Movies often glamorize the life of a gangster, ignoring the negative aspects.
• The magazine glamorized the celebrity lifestyle, making it look perfect and effortless.

Use when adding decorative details or features to something, sometimes in a way that makes it seem better or more interesting than it is. Can be used for both physical objects and stories.

• She likes to embellish her clothes with intricate embroidery.
• He has a habit of embellishing his stories to make them sound more impressive.

Use when making something visually more attractive, usually through decoration or improvements.

• They worked hard to beautify the garden for the spring festival.
• The city's new project aims to beautify public spaces with art and greenery.

Use when improving or making something more effective, attractive, or valuable.

• The new features enhance the overall performance of the software.
• Adding spices can enhance the flavor of the dish.

Use when representing something as perfect or better than in reality, often ignoring its flaws. Tends to have a naive or unrealistic connotation.

• It's common for teenagers to idealize their favorite movie stars.
• She often idealized her childhood memories, forgetting the difficulties she faced.