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
The idea that famous women tend to be either lionized or vilified certainly hasn’t grown less accurate over the past century.
—
Dorothy Fortenberry, The Atlantic, 12 May 2025
The only exception of course is the intersex pope (who – surprise! – has female reproductive parts) & the cardinal who keeps her secret – bc of course that kind of Catholic secret-keeping must be lionized.
—Katcy Stephan, Variety, 6 Jan. 2025
Lee and his friends rejected the intellectuals and politicians who lionized or apologized for communist tyranny.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 21 Dec. 2024
Image As mayor, Mr. Duterte was lionized in the Philippines.
—Aie Balagtas See, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lionize
Dorothy Fortenberry, The Atlantic, 12 May 2025
The only exception of course is the intersex pope (who – surprise! – has female reproductive parts) & the cardinal who keeps her secret – bc of course that kind of Catholic secret-keeping must be lionized.
—Katcy Stephan, Variety, 6 Jan. 2025
Lee and his friends rejected the intellectuals and politicians who lionized or apologized for communist tyranny.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 21 Dec. 2024
Image As mayor, Mr. Duterte was lionized in the Philippines.
—Aie Balagtas See, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lionize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lionize
Verb
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Parton became the first country artist honored as Grammy MusiCares Person of the Year, and has earned 11 Grammy Awards and 52 nominations, including a lifetime achievement award.—
Kimberly Nordyke,
HollywoodReporter,
23 June 2025
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The brand played a key role in honoring Thai heritage through costume and set design, with characters like Belinda and Victoria styled in Jim Thompson caftans.—
Ashlee Marie Preston,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
Verb
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Powell admired Ah Loo’s attention to detail that made his work distinctive.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
17 June 2025
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The Camp Rock star also included clips of herself holding a coconut with a straw, admiring a tiny ladybug on her finger and taking a jetski ride with Lutes in her wake.—
Erin Clack,
People.com,
17 June 2025
Verb
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Internationally aspirational with a presence in all the major markets, the house is revered for both its great value cuvées, and its prestigious Blanc de Blancs ‘Comtes de Champagne’ - one of the world’s best sparkling wines.—
Paul Caputo,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
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Two centuries after his downfall, Napoleon remains both revered and controversial in France -- but above all, unavoidable.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
20 June 2025
Verb
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Pilgrims have long venerated the site, according to the Catholic Encyclopedia of 1914.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
3 June 2025
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Apollo, the god of archery and the son of Zeus, was venerated both in Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2025
Verb
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Britain’s Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, lauded the president’s efforts and exalted the two nations’ longstanding trade and foreign policy ties.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
8 May 2025
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The awards are designed to make adolescents feel just exalted enough to say yes while still extracting the maximum number of dollars from each family.—
Ana Swanson,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
Verb
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Students’ sense that they are accepted, respected, and included can help to establish the classroom as a psychologically safe space for social and cognitive inquiry, experimentation, and growth.—
Linda Darling-Hammond,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
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Ruth’s swings of emotion and identity are multitudes to be uncovered and respected.—
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2025
Verb
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TikTok praised Trump for signing an extension Thursday.—
Ani Freedman,
Fortune,
20 June 2025
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The viral TikTok video has amassed over 1,000 comments already, as many social-media users praised the adorable bond that Peach and Bear have.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 June 2025
Verb
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The soccer star in question, of course, was a certain Lionel Andrés Messi, for whom the masses had made their pilgrimage to worship, as his Inter Miami took on Portuguese giant FC Porto in the second matchday of Group A.—
Glen Levy,
CNN Money,
20 June 2025
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The group argued that allowing Oak Flat, a place where the Apache have worshiped for generations, to be destroyed would have significant religious freedom implications.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lionize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lionize. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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