DEIFY Synonyms: 106 Similar and Opposite Words

deify

verb

ˈdē-ə-ˌfī

Definition of deify

as in to adore

to love or admire too much materialistic people who deify money

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as in to venerate

to offer honor or respect to (someone) as a divine power some ancient pagans deified such objects of nature as trees and rivers

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to elevate

to assign a high status or value to the sense of entitlement felt by athletes who have been deified all their lives

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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 deify As a consequence, people, still possessed by religious longings, tend to deify the country. — Ha Jin july 28, Literary Hub, 28 July 2025 Giuliani was pretty unpopular by the end of his second term and then 9/11 happened and he was deified. — Bradley Tusk, New York Daily News, 29 June 2025 While the titan from Krypton can often seem stoic and deified, Corenswet's Kal-El can be quite passionate about his views and express them loudly. — EW.com, 10 June 2025 His resume speaks for itself — no need for the on-air cast to go overboard in deifying him. — Richard Deitsch, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deify

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deify

Verb

Tight end Eric Saubert played for him in San Francisco and adored the coach’s wit back then.

— Andrew Destin, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
The Hilary Shoulder Bag is from JW Pei, the brand that Oprah, Selena Gomez, Hailey Bieber, Anne Hathaway, and droves of other A-listers adore.

— Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of adore

Verb

The man was Frank McCourt, Stuyvesant’s venerated creative writing teacher.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026
Other venerated South Side joints included Pepper’s Lounge, the Dew Drop Inn, and Theresa’s Lounge, the latter of which was tucked away in the basement of an apartment building.

— René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026

Definition of venerate

Verb

Andrew Perloff and Paul Pabst assess the threat level for the teams in the AFC East, discussing how much Geno Smith elevates the Jets and how the Patriots' schedule affects their ceiling.

— Andrew Greif, NBC news, 10 Sep. 2026
Trump on Wednesday said energy prices that have been elevated due to the Iran war will not come down until after the midterm elections, which are due in November.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of elevate

Verb

The latter is embodied by an underground race of telepathic mutants who worship an unexploded nuclear bomb and find themselves in conflict with the apes, as well as the few surviving humans, on the way to a finale that out-tragedies the original.

— Jesse Hassenger, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026
With only Lucien, a freshly out twink with more heart than abs, still by his side, Jim must race to find a cure before the disease erases the community that once worshipped him.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of worship

Verb

Interestingly, Fernandez-Pardo was revered by Howe and would have been Newcastle’s principal target in May, though his initial preference was for Champions League football.

— George Caulkin, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
It’s revered as a pretension-free refuge from overpriced and overstimulating Ocean Drive.

— Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of revere

Verb

The most important step countries can collectively take is to promote innovation.

— Anna Nelson, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2026
But it is increasingly shaped by what’s happening on the other side of the country, in Washington, where the federal government is working to slow the transition to EVs and promote a fossil fuel future for America.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of promote

Verb

Lamb liked to link play, although City also had plenty of joy down the flanks.

— Rob Tanner, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
As for the journalist, with the anniversary comes reflection on the first responders, those who lost their lives and others who like him, are still living with the consequences.

— Ralphie Aversa, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of like

Verb

Mercury is exalted in Virgo until September 10, so the first part of the month is a good time to get into the logistical weeds about it.

— Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026
The women exalted in these spaces put their face on in the morning—as a woman from the 1950s might say.

— Robin Givhan, Vanity Fair, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of exalt

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“Deify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deify. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of deify

verb

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