IDOLIZE Synonyms: 39 Similar and Opposite Words

idolize

verb

ˈī-də-ˌlīz

Definition of idolize

as in to adore

to love or admire too much she blindly idolized her older sister, refusing to acknowledge any of her faults

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 idolize As a boy, Algren lived on the South Side and idolized the White Sox. — Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026 Messi, who is idolized in Argentina, has never played professionally in his home country. — ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026 Reading the book feels refreshing — a clarifying antidote to a culture increasingly obsessed with idolizing and leveraging suffering. — Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 Fothergill, who grew up in Minnesota idolizing Moss, said his partner held his own on the water, using forward-facing sonar to locate fish sitting 70 to 90 feet deep. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for idolize

Recent Examples of Synonyms for idolize

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

Its magical forest is filled with talking animals, tree-worshipping mystics, scheming functionaries, and the Dowager Governess (Carey Mulligan), an enchantress who commands an army of uniformed coyotes.

— Alison Willmore, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
The long history of prejudice As religious studies scholar Michael Altman argues, the charge that Hindus worship false gods and idols took hold in American national culture nearly two centuries ago.

— Arun Brahmbhatt, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of worship

Verb

Terry Kay liked to tell the story of how he was coerced into writing his first novel by Pat Conroy, who told his literary agent Kay had written a brilliant manuscript.

— Suzanne Van Atten, AJC.com, 18 Oct. 2026
And yet, when CNN Sports asked to speak with people who bet on sports but don’t like prediction markets partnering with sports leagues, teams or athletes themselves, Allison was among the dozens of fans who reached out.

— Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of like

Browse Nearby Words

idolizations

idolize

idolized

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Idolize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idolize. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of idolize

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

puissant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 23

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes