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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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 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
  • Gore says his commitment to Hammer, his first major acquisition in the film world, is backed by a deeply personal connection, having adored its horrors while growing up in the late 60s and 70s.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Ming and Wah are ten-year-old twins who adore a good mystery.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 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
  • Hegseth has infused his evangelical Christianity into his leadership of the Pentagon, hosting Christian worship services for employees and often speaking of the United States as a Christian nation.
    — Tiffany Stanley, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • For the first time in 25 years, the number of people attending in-person worship in the US has increased, according to a new study from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research.
    — John Blake, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of worship
Verb
  • Simply liking someone, feeling close to them or spending hours together isn’t enough to create an attachment relationship.
    — Pascal Vrticka, Scientific American, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Brower and Simone covered the floor around their refrigerator -- where Primrose likes to perch and poop -- with birdcage liner.
    — KYLE MELNICK THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of like
Verb
  • Jonathan Cohen, who leads gambling policy at the American Institute for Boys and Men, praised these moves but said their impact may be limited, pointing to data from state regulators showing that few gamblers utilize similar tools on sportsbooks.
    — Marshall Cohen, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also praised the passengers who stepped up and noted in his statement that investigation is still ongoing.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of praise
Noun
  • And yet, when Szumowska and Englert portray Fyodor’s reaction to the couple’s pregnancy, the birth of their child, and a subsequent tragedy, Anna’s adoration for this utterly flawed man almost feels justified.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • So, too, do the antics of his estate manager (a buoyant Sam Adegoke), always concocting money-making schemes, and the wide-eyed adoration of the girl next door (Amelia Mason, deftly balancing naïveté with seductiveness), who wants to save him.
    — Rhoda Feng, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of adoration
Verb
  • Combs idolized his father, Melvin, wearing his portrait on a medallion around his neck; Christian treats his father with the same reverence.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026
  • As a boy, Algren lived on the South Side and idolized the White Sox.
    — Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of idolize
Verb
  • In between posts promoting her events, Campbell Ortiz frequently posted about her children, congratulating one daughter for graduating high school and wishing one son happy birthday and cheering on his basketball team.
    — Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The veteran coach congratulated his team for the win and quickly pivoted to yelling about mental mistakes that kept Houston County in the game.
    — Jack Leo, AJC.com, 22 Sep. 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 6 Oct. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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