LIONIZE Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

lionize

verb

Definition of lionize

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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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 lionize In the early days of the war, Union troops from Boston had borrowed the familiar melody of a religious camp meeting song and added new lyrics lionizing John Brown, the leader of the 1859 raid on Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia). — Steven Johnson, Washington Post, 14 July 2026 There are episodes that reflect the tendency to lionize the Founders in a way that is incomplete. — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 11 July 2026 Greenspan was the rare celebrity among central bankers, lionized for his economic stewardship in the 1990s. — Scott Horsley, NPR, 22 June 2026 Jay Cooke, who had once been lionized for his role in financing the Union victory, was attacked in the press and accused of cheating ordinary Americans out of their savings. — John Cassidy, New Yorker, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for lionize

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lionize

Verb

The Lakers announced the plan Tuesday to honor Jackson, who led the Lakers to five championships and seven NBA Finals appearances during two stints totaling 11 seasons as their head coach.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2026
Elsewhere, Carolina Herrera will celebrate 45 years with a Wes Gordon show that is sure to wow, while Coach will honor a legendary 85 years with a runway show and special anniversary fête.

— Morgan Evans, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of honor

Verb

The beauty of the property itself affords endless opportunities to stop and admire, and provide context for the great artist's oeuvre.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Sep. 2026
Inspired by the Old Hollywood bon vivants Hendrix grew up admiring —Zsa Zsa Gabor, among them — Lucy is a wickedly sharp and glamorous 1940s socialite whose shows blend crowd work, magic and vaudevillian stunts.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of admire

Verb

But for as much as Kirk was revered on the right, he was reviled on the left, facing pushback for comments disparaging immigrants and transgender people and questioning the qualifications and capabilities of women and Black Americans.

— Elena Moore, NPR, 10 Sep. 2026
Designer Tinker Hatfield made his second contribution to the Air Jordan line with the Air Jordan 4, which is one of the series’ most revered along with his designs of the Air Jordan 3 and Air Jordan 11.

— Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of revere

Verb

The man was Frank McCourt, Stuyvesant’s venerated creative writing teacher.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026
Other venerated South Side joints included Pepper’s Lounge, the Dew Drop Inn, and Theresa’s Lounge, the latter of which was tucked away in the basement of an apartment building.

— René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026

Definition of venerate

Verb

Her dense imagery, exalting family and the Black communities of her native Columbus, Ohio, made her one of America’s great storytellers in any medium.

— Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026
Mercury is exalted in Virgo until September 10, so the first part of the month is a good time to get into the logistical weeds about it.

— Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of exalt

Verb

Yet, he was announced as the player of the match in the stadium, is adored and respected by fans and coaches alike at Bournemouth, and his qualities will inevitably bring external transfer interest.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Thailand's economy is heavily dependent on tourism, but also has implemented new measures to ensure visitors respect the country's norms.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of respect

Verb

The latter is embodied by an underground race of telepathic mutants who worship an unexploded nuclear bomb and find themselves in conflict with the apes, as well as the few surviving humans, on the way to a finale that out-tragedies the original.

— Jesse Hassenger, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026
With only Lucien, a freshly out twink with more heart than abs, still by his side, Jim must race to find a cure before the disease erases the community that once worshipped him.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of worship

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“Lionize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lionize. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of lionize

verb

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