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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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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
Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 10 Nov. 2025
The state media and government representatives push militarism and self-sacrifice; school curricula endlessly celebrate Russian war victories; theaters obediently stage works of communist-era patriotic authors; and cities display army recruitment banners and hero worship posters.
—Nina Khrushcheva, Time, 3 Oct. 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
Bruins players receive their share of glory and hero worship.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 10 Nov. 2025
The state media and government representatives push militarism and self-sacrifice; school curricula endlessly celebrate Russian war victories; theaters obediently stage works of communist-era patriotic authors; and cities display army recruitment banners and hero worship posters.
—Nina Khrushcheva, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hero-worship
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hero-worship
Verb
-
Khedarrion loved helping his family and adored his principal.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
10 May 2026
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Saturday Night Live host Matt Damon was cast as the adoring husband in Mom, an entirely inoffensive movie where nothing bad happens—something that mothers everywhere will enjoy.—
William Vaillancourt,
Rolling Stone,
10 May 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
-
The Los Angeles Police Department’s Major Crimes Division, which investigates hate crimes and attacks on houses of worship, is reviewing the incident, according to a department spokesperson.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
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The event is the second of three worship nights Bethel will do in 2026.—
Post-Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
The Crusaders do not like to share.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 May 2026
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Group of beginners, hobbyists and professionals who like to take and share photos.—
Staff Report,
Baltimore Sun,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Getz’s peers have taken notice and have called to praise him for signing Murakami.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
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Those kind of plays have the Wild coaches praising Hartman for his maturity, in not taking the bait and retaliating with an act that might mean another lengthy suspension.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
9 May 2026
Noun
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His adoration, here as in all things natural, is infectious, although the birds themselves care not a whit for him, and isn’t that part of the wonder, the fun?—
Ian Crouch,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
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The beloved radio broadcaster, who died at age 87 earlier in the day, was the subject of praise, reflection and adoration before the Yankees beat the Orioles, 12-1, and secured a four-game series sweep.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Still, Fonseca idolized Kuerten so much that the teen once tried a one-handed backhand.—
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2026
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Many of us grew up idolizing astronauts as the best of the best that America — and other nations — have to offer.—
Space.com Staff,
Space.com,
9 May 2026
Verb
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She was congratulated by Larson after the announcement at Goodwin University in East Hartford.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
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The Rock, Dwayne Johnson himself, congratulated Francis Mauigoa on social media when the Giants drafted him to be their new starting right guard in April.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hero-worship.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hero-worship. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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