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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of canonize
Walpole was canonized as a saint in 1970 by Pope Paul VI.
—
Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 16 Jan. 2026
He's known for reshaping the Scottish government, expanding royal authority and being one of the few Scottish kings to be canonized by the Catholic Church.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 8 Jan. 2026
In the days after Kirk’s killing, that concern spilled into public view, as attempts by Netanyahu and prominent supporters of Israel to canonize the Turning Point founder as a Zionist to the end were refuted by Kirk’s close associates, many of whom are major players in the MAGA movement.
—Andrew Cockburn, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
The teen died of leukemia in 2006 and was canonized in September.
—Ralphie Aversa, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for canonize
Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 16 Jan. 2026
He's known for reshaping the Scottish government, expanding royal authority and being one of the few Scottish kings to be canonized by the Catholic Church.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 8 Jan. 2026
In the days after Kirk’s killing, that concern spilled into public view, as attempts by Netanyahu and prominent supporters of Israel to canonize the Turning Point founder as a Zionist to the end were refuted by Kirk’s close associates, many of whom are major players in the MAGA movement.
—Andrew Cockburn, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
The teen died of leukemia in 2006 and was canonized in September.
—Ralphie Aversa, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for canonize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for canonize
Verb
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While Hollywood vampires—especially those in the Twilight series—have a devoted fan base, real-life bloodsuckers aren’t so adored.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
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The StyleCaster team aboslutely adores Quince’s wide array of offerings.—
Katie Decker-Jacoby,
StyleCaster,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Or, for your next airport outfit, opt for a drapey button-down, buttery-soft joggers, and a roomy crossbody bag that keeps your essentials close while elevating your entire look.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Apr. 2026
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Space agency officials’ blood pressure was further elevated as experts closely watched the performance of the craft’s heat shield, which astronauts rely on to slow them down and keep temperatures livable.—
Noah Haggerty,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Romans worshipped power and dominance.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
5 Apr. 2026
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The congregation worshiped on Palm Sunday at the Elgin History Museum.—
Mike Danahey,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This will help promote housing stability and economic mobility.—
Chase Jordan
April 7,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Apr. 2026
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In addition, the peptide seems to promote angiogenesis, the development of new blood vessels, possibly via a signalling molecule expressed in many human cancers.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The example Marine likes to cite in thinking for tomorrow as much as today is how Amazon has handled dissatisfaction with deliveries.—
Andrew Marchand,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
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The Play-In came about to make teams like maybe through 12 or 13th keep going.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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So the state has enshrined victimhood in law, even though the science remains contested.—
Magdalena Stawkowski,
The Conversation,
8 Apr. 2026
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As currently written, the bill would also formally declare the state’s ultimate goal to be restoration of the animals, once so ubiquitous that they are enshrined in the state’s flag.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Canonize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canonize. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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