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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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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The show chugged along nonetheless, gradually attracting fans who adored its stark cinematography and weirdo colloquialisms.—
Claire McNear,
Rolling Stone,
8 Nov. 2025
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At 48 percent off, the traveler-adored Matein Travel Laptop Backpack is an excellent, sensible gift that can function as both a personal item and an everyday sightseeing tote.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Nov. 2025
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
-
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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And when diners nearby half-turned their heads to check if the foreigner liked it, Chen saw my expression of delight.—
Mike Valerio,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
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Did all the Luki members immediately like the idea of a film about or what was their reaction?—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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His unique style made his work a major influence on art house cinema including American filmmakers Gus van Sant and Jim Jarmusch, who have praised his vision.—
Justin Spike,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Jan. 2026
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Don’t be afraid to praise good work — doing so sets a tone that turns routine collaboration into something people enjoy.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In reality, Lawrence and Stone are longtime friends (and future collaborators) who haven't been shy about voicing their adoration for one another.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Jan. 2026
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Jerry adoration of football is well documented, almost as much as his first true love — money.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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
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But in October 2024, Vladimir Kramnik, a former Russian World Chess Champion who Naroditsky grew up idolizing, began publicly insinuating that Naroditsky might be using computer assistance during online games.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
18 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Pop icon Justin Bieber publicly congratulated him, leading to the development of a friendship between the two.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
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Legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk — who knows a little something about landing a 900 — congratulated Ovechkin on the milestone.—
Sean Gentille,
New York Times,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hero-worship.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hero-worship. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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