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
That brings us back to the folly of lionizing Kent as a conscientious objector to Trump and the president’s hawkish foreign policy as of late.
—
David M. Drucker,
Twin Cities,
29 Mar. 2026
Los Angeles educators were also directed to immediately shift from lionizing Chávez to honoring instead the farmworkers’ movement.
—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
Some people have lionized Mangione as a sort of vigilante hero.
—
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
Some people have lionized Mangione as a sort of vigilante hero.
—
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lionize
David M. Drucker,
Twin Cities,
29 Mar. 2026
Los Angeles educators were also directed to immediately shift from lionizing Chávez to honoring instead the farmworkers’ movement.
—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
Some people have lionized Mangione as a sort of vigilante hero.
—
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
Some people have lionized Mangione as a sort of vigilante hero.
—
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lionize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lionize
Verb
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At the San Diego event, the guide also promoted one restaurant, Kato in Los Angeles, to the two-star list and honored nine new restaurants with one-star awards, including Naides in San Francisco, one of the few Filipino cuisine restaurants in the nation with that distinction.
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Chen and Hu started the Alan Hu Foundation to honor their son who wanted to be a psychiatrist to help others like him.
Verb
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Brazil, a country long admired by Haitian fans and players, the toughest.
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Like Robertson and Senesi, Van Hecke is a player Tottenham admired long before Roberto De Zerbi took the reins on March 31.
Verb
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Shazeer is widely revered as one of the key architects of the modern generative AI boom.
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Though Greenspan was revered among Wall Streeters at the time, Grant’s critical review of Greenspan’s legacy warned of the imbalances and bubbles that were forming in equities and debt—years before the Great Recession that was to come.
Verb
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The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, a monastery with emblematic golden domes, is venerated by both the Russian and Ukrainian wings of the Orthodox Church as one of their most important spiritual centers.
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Olivier was venerated as a Shakespearean actor, playing many iconic protagonists in London including Hamlet, Henry V, Macbeth and, controversially, Othello.
Verb
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Meanwhile, Jupiter — exalted in Cancer — brings expansion to themes of intuition, emotional intelligence, family bonds and home life.
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Onstage, Michael is exalted, transfigured, fully alive, with neither fear nor shame.
Verb
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Baelor Targaryen Baelor Targaryen (Bertie Carvel) — often called Baelor Breakspear — is a noble and widely respected Targaryen prince known for his honor, leadership and skill in battle.
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Watts teaches clients how to fish, respect the lake, to understand seasons, patterns and the importance of stewardship.
Verb
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Many supported their battle, praising them for taking the step.
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Sebastián Beccacece, the coach of La Tri, praised Ecuador fans in his pre-game news conference.
Verb
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Quite literally worshipped by some extreme members of society.
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Few foods occupy a space as unique as instant noodles, simultaneously worshipped as a junk food treat and a reliable staple for millions of people around the world.
Cite this Entry
“Lionize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lionize. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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