idolize

verb

idol·​ize ˈī-də-ˌlīz 

idolized; idolizing

transitive verb

: to worship as a god

broadly : to love or admire to excess

… the common people whom he so idolized.

—The Times Literary Supplement (London)

intransitive verb

: to practice idolatry

idolization

ˌī-də-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

idolizer

ˈī-də-ˌlī-zər 

noun

Synonyms of idolize

• adore
• worship
• like

Examples of idolize in a Sentence

an actor who is idolized by millions

she blindly idolized her older sister, refusing to acknowledge any of her faults

Recent Examples on the Web

After the September 2025 shooting, law enforcement said the social media companies were slow to produce information about the shooter's online profiles, which included posts idolizing of other mass shooters. — Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 12 Aug. 2026

The hosts are still getting used to receiving a heightened level of attention, to being idolized by both the general nerd and Black nerd communities. — Daniel Strauss, Vanity Fair, 10 Aug. 2026

In June, Swedish authorities arrested a teenage boy who pledged allegiance to the Islamist State and idolized suicide bombers, according to Swedish media. — Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026

Driving the success is a Lebanese duo with a great backstory (one player used to idolize the other) - which William Mullaly details in this great piece for The National. — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for idolize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize
• butterflies

Kids Definition

idolize

verb

idol·​ize ˈīd-ᵊl-ˌīz 

idolized; idolizing

: to worship as an idol : love or admire too much

idolization

ˌīd-ᵊl-ə-ˈzā-shən

noun

idolizer

ˈīd-ᵊl-ˌī-zər 

noun