idolatrous

adjective

idol·​a·​trous ī-ˈdä-lə-trəs How to pronounce idolatrous (audio)
1
: of or relating to idolatry
2
: having the character of idolatry
the religion of idolatrous nationalismAldous Huxley
3
: given to idolatry
idolatrously adverb
idolatrousness noun

Examples of idolatrous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The church often describes the love of self as merely a distraction — as an idolatrous focus on one’s own life and gain. Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 19 July 2024 In Maimonides’ view, saying that God has a body is not just incorrect but blasphemous and idolatrous. Randy L. Friedman, The Conversation, 16 Feb. 2024 Even if the Palestinian group managed to defeat Israel, this would only mean the substitution of one system of idolatrous rule for another. Cole Bunzel, Foreign Affairs, 2 Nov. 2023 Her abusive minister father believed the sculptures were idolatrous and forbade Savage from pursuing her passion. Tanisha C. Ford, Town & Country, 4 Apr. 2023 Still, the film is not idolatrous but evenhanded. Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2022 As Christians, all of them were ambivalent about the idolatrous aspects of traditional Benin art. David Frum, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2022 Does anyone outside his idolatrous circle really think that this raid is anything but the actions of a billionaire trying to shape the dialogue in his favor and control the tools used by regular Joes to fight back? Horacio Silva, Town & Country, 1 May 2022 But seeing Minnelli, physically weakened yet immortally bright-eyed, stirred something in me that I am not used to feeling while watching these idolatrous shows. New York Times, 20 Apr. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1541, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of idolatrous was in 1541

Dictionary Entries Near idolatrous

Cite this Entry

“Idolatrous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/idolatrous. Accessed 7 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

idolatrous

adjective
idol·​a·​trous ī-ˈdäl-ə-trəs How to pronounce idolatrous (audio)
1
: of or relating to idolatry
2
: given to idolatry
idolatrously adverb

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