as in adored
to love or admire too much
she blindly idolized her older sister, refusing to acknowledge any of her faults
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Recent Examples of idolized
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
Kiffin idolized Spurrier growing up.
—Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025
But in tech, where founders are idolized yet structurally undercapitalized as individuals, the idea is both obvious and overdue.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
Ed idolized Augusta and was disturbed that Henry, who often criticized and argued against her strict teachings, had much less admiration for her.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
The Founding Fathers idolized Cincinnatus, who was appointed dictator to save the Roman Republic, then peacefully returned to his fields.
—Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
Fein had long idolized the legendary producer and creator of the Wall of Sound.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 10 Aug. 2025
Williams’ debut explores power, desire, and fear, following an assistant in her early twenties who is caught up in an affair with an older writer she’s long idolized.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 July 2025
Christina Perrier, InStyle, 31 Dec. 2025
Kiffin idolized Spurrier growing up.
—Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025
But in tech, where founders are idolized yet structurally undercapitalized as individuals, the idea is both obvious and overdue.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
Ed idolized Augusta and was disturbed that Henry, who often criticized and argued against her strict teachings, had much less admiration for her.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
The Founding Fathers idolized Cincinnatus, who was appointed dictator to save the Roman Republic, then peacefully returned to his fields.
—Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
Fein had long idolized the legendary producer and creator of the Wall of Sound.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 10 Aug. 2025
Williams’ debut explores power, desire, and fear, following an assistant in her early twenties who is caught up in an affair with an older writer she’s long idolized.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 July 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idolized
Verb
-
Yet beneath her polished exterior is a desire to be chosen, adored and validated.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Still, their esoteric acid rock was revered and adored by their huge and loyal fanbase, known as Deadheads.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Irish, Italian, German, and Polish communities each worshipped—in Latin—at their own churches, often within blocks of one another.—
Paul Elie,
New Yorker,
5 Jan. 2026
-
As their youngest uncle, Turner’s nieces and nephews worshiped him.—
Roni Jacobson,
New York Daily News,
4 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Idolized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idolized. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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