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
  • On the 1994 comeback album Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins, Sparks imagined Liberace, who died in 1987, making his own comeback in the afterlife, adored again as a phantom haunting the Earth.
    — Al Shipley, SPIN, 31 July 2026
  • During his rally in Milford, northwest of Detroit, the crowd was adoring.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 July 2026
Definition of adore
Verb
  • In an effort to help elevate Thoroughbred racing among the everyday sports fan, Churchill Downs and the New York Racing Association will launch a three-year-old championship series consisting of six races beginning in 2027.
    — Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Boxwood shrubs are a great option for pristine hedges and natural privacy screens, elevating your landscaping with their bright green foliage and clean appearance.
    — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of elevate
Verb
  • People have been kidnapped while driving on interstate roads, while worshipping at church, and while sleeping in their homes.
    — Alexis Okeowo, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Luckily, there are plenty of sun and heat-worshipping flowers that can stand up to and thrive in August weather.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of worship
Verb
  • Veterinary experts share tips on how to care for the items that come into contact with our furry companions to promote good health and stave off odors.
    — Jolie Kerr, Washington Post, 1 Aug. 2026
  • It is commonly used in sports medicine, regenerative medicine and wellness settings with the goal of promoting the healing of tendons, ligaments, muscles and other soft tissues.
    — Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 31 July 2026
Definition of promote
Verb
  • Across both the 2026 and 2025 studies, participants still liked the spicier versions of each food.
    — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 July 2026
  • Landscape painters liked the Connecticut River, and Nebel’s mentor, James Earle Fraser, designer of the Buffalo nickel and a lot of other Americana, had settled in Westport, building himself a custom studio.
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 30 July 2026
Definition of like
Verb
  • Over the decades, Argentina’s claim on the islands became enshrined in its constitution.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 31 July 2026
  • Howe and his players were automatically enshrined as club legends.
    — George Caulkin, New York Times, 30 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 7 Aug. 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 invidious

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

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

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
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
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All