1
as in to adore
to love or admire too much
people who hero-worship celebrities are setting themselves up for disappointment
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to overpraise
to praise too much
a golfing pro who is hero-worshipped by hordes of weekend duffers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in worship
excessive admiration of or devotion to a person
once the object of uncritical hero worship, the aging quarterback now faces the derision of his team's fickle fans
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hero-worship
Thomas Smith, Billboard, 6 May 2025
There’s a kitschy, romantic, hero-worshipping nostalgia to the image, as if Norman Rockwell had undergone a lobotomy.
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2025
Nina Khrushcheva, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
Apatow’s descriptions of these early interviews are laced with self-deprecation and hero worship.
—Adrienne Lafrance, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hero-worship
Verb
In an accompanying statement, Yungblud said that the record explores the theme of hero-worship.
—Thomas Smith, Billboard, 6 May 2025
There’s a kitschy, romantic, hero-worshipping nostalgia to the image, as if Norman Rockwell had undergone a lobotomy.
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2025
Noun
The state media and government representatives push militarism and self-sacrifice; school curricula endlessly celebrate Russian war victories; theaters obediently stage works of communist-era patriotic authors; and cities display army recruitment banners and hero worship posters.
—Nina Khrushcheva, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
Apatow’s descriptions of these early interviews are laced with self-deprecation and hero worship.
—Adrienne Lafrance, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hero-worship
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hero-worship
Verb
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Partenope Ristorante in downtown Dallas and Richardson Phil Rosenthal, star of the Netflix series Somebody Feed Phil, toured through Dallas in late January 2026 and told travel stories to an adoring audience.—
Sarah Blaskovich,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Feb. 2026
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Even Floridians who support Israel or adore Ron DeSantis should recognize the danger here.—
Hiba Rahim,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The result is sometimes overpraising, overprotection, and overindulging children, mixing emotional intensity with economic privilege in ways that breed entitlement.—
Christine Michel Carter,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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Know-nothings pretend that Schrader’s Bressonian mannerisms reveal the spiritual depths of contemporary crisis, when, in fact, Master Gardener repeats the same social-collapse paranoia that made secular reviewers overpraise the religious, racial, suicide-bomber topics of First Reformed.—
Armond White,
National Review,
24 May 2023
Noun
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Three region locations were among the 24 congregations statewide to receive grants through the nonprofit’s Sacred Places Indiana Fund to address capital needs at historic houses of worship.—
Amy Lavalley,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Feb. 2026
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Teitz, said their yeshiva is the only Jewish house of worship in town, where forty roughly high-school age students attend.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Your goal is not to be liked by everyone.—
Rachel Wells,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Ridley likes to create the base by blending different shades of cream and brown polish with a gradient brush (a thin nail brush with spiky bristles) to create the fur-like look and texture.—
Annie Blay-Tettey,
Allure,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in separate statements, praised the security forces for the operations.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
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Instead of soaking in the third consecutive meet with a perfect score, Chiles praised Barros, who competed in three events for the second straight meet.—
Anthony Solorzano,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The retreat will include interactive talks, personal time for couples’ reflection and discussion, a continental breakfast and catered lunch, and adoration with a special blessing for the couples.—
Post-Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2026
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This is far from the first time Ina has shared her adoration for this saucy and cozy comfort food recipe.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Once, Maye idolized Cam Newton.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Jan. 2026
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Her polished fashion sense, marked by sophisticated, minimalist pieces and a neutral color palette, has been idolized even decades after her death.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Backstage, Finn Balor congratulated Punk and thanked him for giving him his flowers last week.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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The idea that Henie actually had a romantic relationship with Hitler is widely disputed; the ice princess and the dictator did, however, reportedly go to lunch after Hitler congratulated her rinkside on winning her third Olympic title.—
Natasha O'Neill,
Vanity Fair,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hero-worship.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hero-worship. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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