1
as in to adore
to love or admire too much
people who hero-worship celebrities are setting themselves up for disappointment
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to overpraise
to praise too much
a golfing pro who is hero-worshipped by hordes of weekend duffers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in worship
excessive admiration of or devotion to a person
once the object of uncritical hero worship, the aging quarterback now faces the derision of his team's fickle fans
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hero-worship
Thomas Smith, Billboard, 6 May 2025
There’s a kitschy, romantic, hero-worshipping nostalgia to the image, as if Norman Rockwell had undergone a lobotomy.
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2025
Adrienne Lafrance, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025
Those studying this digital age of extremism said it is based in part on hero worship of those who have gone before them.
—Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hero-worship
Verb
In an accompanying statement, Yungblud said that the record explores the theme of hero-worship.
—Thomas Smith, Billboard, 6 May 2025
There’s a kitschy, romantic, hero-worshipping nostalgia to the image, as if Norman Rockwell had undergone a lobotomy.
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2025
Noun
Apatow’s descriptions of these early interviews are laced with self-deprecation and hero worship.
—Adrienne Lafrance, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025
Those studying this digital age of extremism said it is based in part on hero worship of those who have gone before them.
—Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hero-worship
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hero-worship
Verb
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Still, their esoteric acid rock was revered and adored by their huge and loyal fanbase, known as Deadheads.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Jan. 2026
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Leave it to a Housewife to find an adoring gay to glom on to.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The result is sometimes overpraising, overprotection, and overindulging children, mixing emotional intensity with economic privilege in ways that breed entitlement.—
Christine Michel Carter,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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Know-nothings pretend that Schrader’s Bressonian mannerisms reveal the spiritual depths of contemporary crisis, when, in fact, Master Gardener repeats the same social-collapse paranoia that made secular reviewers overpraise the religious, racial, suicide-bomber topics of First Reformed.—
Armond White,
National Review,
24 May 2023
Noun
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Try driving eastward, on Palmetto Park Road or Glades or Camino Real, to get to City Hall, the downtown library, Mizner Park, places of worship in east Boca or to our beautiful beaches.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Jan. 2026
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Investigators said the shooter or shooters fled from the house of worship, likely traveling north on Redwood Road.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Your goal is not to be liked by everyone.—
Rachel Wells,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Ridley likes to create the base by blending different shades of cream and brown polish with a gradient brush (a thin nail brush with spiky bristles) to create the fur-like look and texture.—
Annie Blay-Tettey,
Allure,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in separate statements, praised the security forces for the operations.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
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Instead of soaking in the third consecutive meet with a perfect score, Chiles praised Barros, who competed in three events for the second straight meet.—
Anthony Solorzano,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The retreat will include interactive talks, personal time for couples’ reflection and discussion, a continental breakfast and catered lunch, and adoration with a special blessing for the couples.—
Post-Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2026
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This is far from the first time Ina has shared her adoration for this saucy and cozy comfort food recipe.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Once, Maye idolized Cam Newton.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Jan. 2026
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Her polished fashion sense, marked by sophisticated, minimalist pieces and a neutral color palette, has been idolized even decades after her death.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Backstage, Finn Balor congratulated Punk and thanked him for giving him his flowers last week.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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The idea that Henie actually had a romantic relationship with Hitler is widely disputed; the ice princess and the dictator did, however, reportedly go to lunch after Hitler congratulated her rinkside on winning her third Olympic title.—
Natasha O'Neill,
Vanity Fair,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hero-worship.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hero-worship. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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