Meanings
verbcosmeticize (third-person singular simple present cosmeticizes, present participle cosmeticizing, simple past and past participle cosmeticized)
present singular third person cosmeticizes · participle present cosmeticizing · participle past cosmeticized · past cosmeticized · alternative cosmeticise · alternative cosmetize
- To make attractive, to superficially improve the appearance of
In our work, we don't try to cosmeticize anything.
1990 May 18, Albert Williams, “On Stage: LAPD's theater of the homeless”, in Chicago Reader1 more example
But to ignore or attempt to cosmeticize Kelly's history of political and institutional racism is a disgrace.
2000 January 7, Don Rose, “What a Whitewash”, in Chicago Reader
Synonyms & antonyms
Also see
Origin
Cite this entry
APA
cosmeticize. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cosmeticize
MLA
“cosmeticize.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cosmeticize. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cosmeticize,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cosmeticize.
Source: cosmeticize on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.