canonize

verb

ˈka-nə-ˌnīz How to pronounce canonize (audio)
Definition of canonizenext
1
as in to adore
to love or admire too much a singing star so canonized by his fans that they refuse to believe anything bad about him

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to elevate
to assign a high status or value to those movie buffs who have canonized Alfred Hitchcock as filmdom's preeminent director

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of canonize She was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1995. — CNN Money, 13 May 2026 Gaudí is on the path to possible sainthood, but he won’t be canonized during the pope’s trip, Spain’s bishops said Wednesday. — Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026 Gaudí is on the path to possible sainthood, but he won't be canonized during the pope's trip, Spain's bishops said Wednesday. — ABC News, 6 May 2026 From ancient epics to contemporary headlines, humans have spent centuries canonizing courage as a rare and admirable virtue. — Cynthia Pury, The Conversation, 29 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for canonize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for canonize
  1. adore
  2. elevate
  3. worship
  4. promote
  5. like
  6. enshrine
Verb
  • Having Nick and Charlie end their relationship—a relationship genuinely adored by the Heartstopper fandom— was not a decision Oseman made lightly.
    — Barry Levitt, Time, 17 July 2026
  • Anna’s attitude speaks to the jealousy that fuels the movie’s wider narrative – Jack is adored, largely inappropriately, by all the members of his family – while his father’s probing highlights a warped sense of entitlement.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
Definition of adore
Verb
  • Wide Brim Hats Hats are the other heroes of eye protection—and can elevate your style at the same time.
    — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 22 July 2026
  • Sticking with our Porsche analogy, that elevates the Emira perilously close to 911 territory.
    — Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 22 July 2026
Definition of elevate
Verb
  • Visitors from the four corners of the soccer-worshipping earth descended upon our huge and beautifully chaotic country and a whole bunch of them seemed to fall in love with the place and its people.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 17 July 2026
  • Inside, inscriptions bearing Paser's name depict him worshipping various deities inside shrines, as well as seated with his wife before an offering table.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 12 July 2026
Definition of worship
Verb
  • The woman was given a warning but later promoted, according to the lawsuit.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026
  • The Mediterranean diet, on the other hand, is much less restrictive and actually promotes the consumption of red wine in moderation.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026
Definition of promote
Verb
  • No one likes the sloppy tailoring of Octavius’s open-back suit, but Law loves the jacket.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 17 July 2026
  • The firm also likes artificial intelligence beneficiaries for equity allocations across its portfolios.
    — Michelle Fox, CNBC, 16 July 2026
Definition of like
Verb
  • One law enshrines Torah study as a foundational state value in a Basic Law, a move that critics say lays the constitutional groundwork for exemptions to survive future Supreme Court challenges.
    — Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • On Missouri’s August ballot, Amendment 2 asks voters across the state to further enshrine the requirement to continue holding such elections.
    — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 17 July 2026
Definition of enshrine

Browse Nearby Words

canonical
canonize
canonized
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Canonize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canonize. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on canonize

Nglish: Translation of canonize for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of maverick

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
thumbnail graphic with text word of the day quiz
Weekly "Word of the Day" Quiz See how well you know each Word of the Day for Ju...
See All