mythologize
verb
my·thol·o·gize mi-ˈthä-lə-ˌjīz 
mythologized; mythologizing
transitive verb
1
obsolete : to explain the mythological significance of
2
: to build a myth around : mythicize
intransitive verb
1
: to relate, classify, and explain myths
2
: to create or perpetuate myths
mythologizer noun
Example Sentences
a politician who has been mythologized by his supporters
Recent Examples on the Web Please don’t mythologize the lifestyle of someone who is lost and in pain. 
Dan Koeppel, Outside Online, 5 Sep. 2019 The story, illustrating an iconic web of connection between The Kar-Jenners’ predecessors, swiftly counters any implication that Kris’s reflex to mythologize life is frivolous. Vogue, 29 Apr. 2022 Here’s a historical figure who’s been a lightning rod in the debate over colonialism and its impact on indigenous peoples, but 1492 chooses to mythologize rather than interrogate. Scott Tobias, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2021 Contemporary accounts tend to mythologize the brief life of Jean-Michel Basquiat, who rocketed from New York City’s underground graffiti culture to worldwide acclaim before dying of a heroin overdose at just 27 years old. Nora Mcgreevy, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Nov. 2020 The decision to portray a character like Jin, a 13th century warrior, in the same way that Japan would later mythologize the samurai for nationalistic purposes is worth discussing. Reid Mccarter, Washington Post, 14 Aug. 2020 Around the world, there are early signs that some of the emergency measures Wall Street is rolling out to keep employees safe in a pandemic will become a lasting practice in an industry that’s long mythologized the handshake. Katia Porzecanski, Bloomberg.com, 5 May 2020 Had Jackson French succeeded in publishing her results, DiSavino argues, the study of Appalachian balladry might have been redirected from mythologizing about racial purity into something more accurate and inclusive. Lidija Haas, Harper's Magazine, 27 Apr. 2020 Subsequent events have demonstrated the older generation of Zimbabweans have auto-mythologized the event. Olu Alake, Quartz Africa, 18 Apr. 2020 See More
Dan Koeppel, Outside Online, 5 Sep. 2019 The story, illustrating an iconic web of connection between The Kar-Jenners’ predecessors, swiftly counters any implication that Kris’s reflex to mythologize life is frivolous. Vogue, 29 Apr. 2022 Here’s a historical figure who’s been a lightning rod in the debate over colonialism and its impact on indigenous peoples, but 1492 chooses to mythologize rather than interrogate. Scott Tobias, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2021 Contemporary accounts tend to mythologize the brief life of Jean-Michel Basquiat, who rocketed from New York City’s underground graffiti culture to worldwide acclaim before dying of a heroin overdose at just 27 years old. Nora Mcgreevy, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Nov. 2020 The decision to portray a character like Jin, a 13th century warrior, in the same way that Japan would later mythologize the samurai for nationalistic purposes is worth discussing. Reid Mccarter, Washington Post, 14 Aug. 2020 Around the world, there are early signs that some of the emergency measures Wall Street is rolling out to keep employees safe in a pandemic will become a lasting practice in an industry that’s long mythologized the handshake. Katia Porzecanski, Bloomberg.com, 5 May 2020 Had Jackson French succeeded in publishing her results, DiSavino argues, the study of Appalachian balladry might have been redirected from mythologizing about racial purity into something more accurate and inclusive. Lidija Haas, Harper's Magazine, 27 Apr. 2020 Subsequent events have demonstrated the older generation of Zimbabweans have auto-mythologized the event. Olu Alake, Quartz Africa, 18 Apr. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Middle French mythologiser, from mythologie mythology + -iser -ize
First Known Use
1603, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
- christmassed
- christmasses
- christmassing
- christmassy
- Christmastide
- Christmastides
- christmastides
- Christmastime
- Christmastimes
- christmastimes
- christmasy
- Christo
- Christocentric
- Christocentrism
- Christogram
- christograms
- christological
- christologies
- Christology
- christom child
- christophanies
- Christophany
- Christophe
- christophene
- Christopher