hero-worship 1 of 2

verb

ˈhir-(ˌ)ō-ˌwər-ship How to pronounce hero-worship (audio)
Definition of hero-worshipnext
1
as in to adore
to love or admire too much people who hero-worship celebrities are setting themselves up for disappointment

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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

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hero worship

2 of 2

noun

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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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 hero-worship
Verb
When The Athletic visited Tashkent for the March international break, the hero-worship hadn’t yet ceased; Cannavaro was applauded both into and out of the press conference room by journalists, while some asked for selfies. — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 1 June 2026 In an accompanying statement, Yungblud said that the record explores the theme of hero-worship. — Thomas Smith, Billboard, 6 May 2025
Noun
The hundreds of millions of people who follow her are aware of this disconnect and embrace the contrived aspect of her persona in a way that’s more meta than classic Hollywood hero worship. — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 11 Mar. 2026 This is the vibe that Edgar Wright is chasing with his version of The Running Man, which hews closely to the original text with a fidelity bordering on hero worship. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hero-worship
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hero-worship
  1. adore
  2. overpraise
  3. worship
  4. like
  5. praise
  6. adoration
  7. idolize
  8. congratulate
Verb
  • An outgoing kid from the suburbs of Buffalo, New York, who adored his little sister, Burch never regained consciousness.
    — Brittany Shammas, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
  • No other branch takes such delight in going its own way, regularly giving a cold shoulder to titles the rest of the industry adores.
    — Nate Jones, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of adore
Verb
  • 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
  • As in the case of that picture, East of Eden is backed up by masterful screen storytelling that can hardly be overpraised and is complicated by no message that can be termed controversial.
    — Jack Moffitt, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2023
Definition of overpraise
Noun
  • Is class the best lens for understanding Hitler’s appeal, or is daddy worship?
    — Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Affordability is a central concern for voters such as Alex Weaver, a maintenance worker at the worship center who helped prepare the building for the visit.
    — Larry Seward, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of worship
Verb
  • On the other side is Gadi Eisenkot, a centrist former military chief who is temperate and broadly liked but lacks the political instincts to become a clear favorite.
    — Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The Cougars stuffed all the ways Utah likes to run the ball until Dampier took matters into his own hands and posted a season high in rushing in electrifying style.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of like
Verb
  • Supporters, including Catholic and Orthodox Jewish school advocates and Democrats for Education Reform, praised the move.
    — Lara Murray-Sterzel, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Global Reach, an advocacy group that works to free Americans detained abroad and currently represents five Americans held in Russia, praised the release but called for the other prisoners to come home as well.
    — Dasha Litvinova, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of praise
Noun
  • His face appearing on the big screen was naturally greeted by cheers of adoration from the stands and would normally have been a pure reason to smile.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The filmmaker was showered with love and adoration by appreciative fans.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of adoration
Verb
  • Swann is a Chicago native who grew up idolizing Carlton Fisk, the Hall of Fame backstop who spent the second half of his career calling Comiskey Park home.
    — Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Upon investigation, police found posts the shooter made in an online community where young people involved in school shootings are idolized.
    — Chad de Guzman, Time, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of idolize
Verb
  • The tragedy unfolded just one day after the archdiocese congratulated Sánchez Molinari on the anniversary of his ordination, Ecuadorian news outlet Primicias reported.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • How Mana got his start A young man walking on Flagler recognized Mana and stopped to shake his hand, congratulating him on the recent billion-dollar sale in Wynwood.
    — Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of congratulate

Browse Nearby Words

heroizing
hero-worship
hero worship
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Cite this Entry

“Hero-worship.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hero-worship. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

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