as in worship
excessive admiration of or devotion to a person
the mass idolization of the Renaissance artist continues to this day
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Recent Examples of idolization
The idolization of Steve Spurrier, dating a UF alum and understanding of Florida recruiting after a stint at FAU rang seemed to work in his favor.
—
Noah White, Miami Herald, 30 Nov. 2025
But even more clear to me this go-around was that Bella's idolization of Edward comes from a horrifyingly insecure place.
—USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
Noah White, Miami Herald, 30 Nov. 2025
But even more clear to me this go-around was that Bella's idolization of Edward comes from a horrifyingly insecure place.
—USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idolization
Noun
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Deputies have increased their presence around places of worship, cultural centers and schools.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
1 Mar. 2026
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But Lemon was eventually arrested in late January after a federal grand jury returned an indictment against him and eight others on charges of conspiracy against the rights of religious freedom at a place of worship and interfering with the exercise of the right of religious freedom.—
Ryan J. Reilly,
NBC news,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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And yet the 1934 World Cup in Italy was turned into a spectacle of adoration for the Fascist dictator Mussolini.—
Ian Buruma,
New Yorker,
23 Feb. 2026
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The outpouring of emotion triggered by Dalglish’s exit opened his daughter’s eyes to the depth of adoration for her father, who had been a pillar of support for the city in the aftermath of Hillsborough.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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As a cipher, the Discobolus can either represent Pollak’s humanistic ethos of a cosmopolitan society or the idolatries of Hitler’s blood-and-soil fascism.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Feb. 2026
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But the Turkish big man is also representative of a more meaningful trend, which was on display again this week, even before the Nuggets visited Houston — a recent proliferation of Jokic idolatry throughout the sport.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
21 Nov. 2025
Noun
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By the nail holes above and beside the worshiping altar, the household hung garlands.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Feb. 2026
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Afternoons are made for fresh piña coladas, languid sun worshipping, and offshore adventures on motorboats fully stocked with snorkels, fins, and local beer.—
Rosalyn Wikeley,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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This recognition and adulation came at the end of a decade that was perhaps the hardest in Katharine’s working life.—
Natalia Sánchez Loayza,
Scientific American,
26 Feb. 2026
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The chamber erupted in applause as the semi-toothed heroes who beat Canada in Milan basked in the adulation of the United States Congress.—
Aidan McLaughlin,
Vanity Fair,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Stalin saw the symphony as his deification.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
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Since August the regime had been encouraging young people to come to Beijing to be received by Mao—in a bid to stir up more frenzy for Mao’s deification.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Idolization.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idolization. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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