as in to honor
to treat (someone) as a very important and famous person
She was lionized everywhere after her novel won the Pulitzer Prize.
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Recent Examples of lionize
She’s been lionized, condemned (even sometimes by the left), mocked, dismissed, revered, and occasionally rediscovered.
—
David Browne, Rolling Stone, 11 June 2025
Hugo returned to a hero’s welcome, and to the establishment of the Third Republic, which lionized him until it, too, was at last destroyed by the same forces of reactionary authoritarianism, in new uniforms, in 1940.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 13 June 2025
His life wasn’t cut short like the lives of Jimi Hendrix or John Lennon, which was great, but also meant that he wasn’t lionized as a brilliant comet gone too soon.
—Ben Greenman, Pitchfork, 10 June 2025
Since his arrest in Pennsylvania earlier this week, Luigi Mangione has been the subject of memes, which have lionized his physique and appearance.
—Peter Suciu, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for lionize
David Browne, Rolling Stone, 11 June 2025
Hugo returned to a hero’s welcome, and to the establishment of the Third Republic, which lionized him until it, too, was at last destroyed by the same forces of reactionary authoritarianism, in new uniforms, in 1940.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 13 June 2025
His life wasn’t cut short like the lives of Jimi Hendrix or John Lennon, which was great, but also meant that he wasn’t lionized as a brilliant comet gone too soon.
—Ben Greenman, Pitchfork, 10 June 2025
Since his arrest in Pennsylvania earlier this week, Luigi Mangione has been the subject of memes, which have lionized his physique and appearance.
—Peter Suciu, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for lionize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lionize
Verb
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Marquis Who’s Who honors Gene Saunders for his contributions to public safety and technology integration.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
23 Aug. 2025
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Bess' friends wanted to honor his memory by making dying wishes come true for some adults with life-threatening illnesses.—
The Tennessean,
The Tennessean,
23 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Or, simply admire the talent that manifests throughout Sewanee.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Aug. 2025
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Every indigenous animal plays an important role in the ecosystem, and students will learn to respect and admire, from a safe distance, these important reptiles.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Former managers Dale Sveum and Rick Renteria weren’t blamed for all the losing in the rebuild years from 2012-14, and Joe Maddon was widely revered after making the NL Championship Series in his first year and ending the World Series title drought in his second.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Aug. 2025
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Her final novel, The Blue Flower, about a romance in the early life of Novalis, was so revered by American critics that that National Book Critics Circle changed their rules for eligibility to include books published in the US.—
Jane Ciabattari
August 12,
Literary Hub,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The church has received visitors and pilgrims for decades who venerate the saint's faith.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 July 2025
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Fans drive what art gets created, what products get made, who gets canceled, and who gets venerated.—
Ellen Cushing,
The Atlantic,
10 July 2025
Verb
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Vuitton’s longstanding cultural exchanges with Japan are a recurring topic throughout the Osaka exhibition, and are exalted in a dedicated room outfitted with tatami platforms and lighting.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
14 July 2025
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There is something peculiar and exalted in the moment.—
Jayson Greene,
Time,
17 June 2025
Verb
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That what their songs added up to was a full-scale vision of the ins and outs of love and loss and romance and pain and desire and fulfillment, told entirely from a woman’s point of view, is part of the reason their genius wasn’t fully recognized and respected.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
15 Aug. 2025
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But first, repair and renovate all Chicago State University buildings if only to respect the students, faculty and staff who spend time there.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But just a couple of decades ago, wine (especially red wine) was praised for its positive health benefits, even on 60-Minutes, with their famous ‘French Paradox’ show.—
Liz Thach,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
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Another was praised for being someone who supervisors trusted.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Garner provides programs in life skills, anger management, job training, religious study, and worship, creating new habits, culinary arts, embracing fatherhood, farming and gardening, manufacturing, and community college courses.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
9 Aug. 2025
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The event gave kids of all ages and all faiths a space to worship, fellowship and have fun.—
La Risa R. Lynch,
jsonline.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lionize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lionize. Accessed 25 Aug. 2025.
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