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 movie’s frank depiction of Mishima’s bisexual obsessions and radical political drive, not to mention the involvement of foreign filmmakers like Schrader, Coppola and Lucas, drew a boycott from Mishima’s widow and incensed the ultra-right-wing political groups that continued to lionize him.
—
Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
Progressives should condemn these killers and do whatever is in their power to push back on the voices that lionize them, and the toxic social media algorithms that boost those voices.
—Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 27 Sep. 2025
On Sunday, he was lionized as a Christian martyr and patriot committed to free expression and challenging liberal orthodoxy.
—Fortune, 22 Sep. 2025
Conservatives memorialize Kirk as 'martyr' and 'warrior' Kirk was lionized by several speakers as a modern-day martyr, many using the word in the context of his Christian faith.
—Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lionize
Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
Progressives should condemn these killers and do whatever is in their power to push back on the voices that lionize them, and the toxic social media algorithms that boost those voices.
—Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 27 Sep. 2025
On Sunday, he was lionized as a Christian martyr and patriot committed to free expression and challenging liberal orthodoxy.
—Fortune, 22 Sep. 2025
Conservatives memorialize Kirk as 'martyr' and 'warrior' Kirk was lionized by several speakers as a modern-day martyr, many using the word in the context of his Christian faith.
—Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lionize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lionize
Verb
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The developments come as the White House has spurred a variety of sports-friendly initiatives to honor the semiquincentennial, including a UFC fight on the White House lawn in June.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Jan. 2026
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In the Cooper case, the university did the right thing by refusing to honor the demands of powerful legislators.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The group received admiring press, and was funded by Congress and various philanthropies; the budget at Dare headquarters eventually approached twenty-five million dollars a year.—
Charles Duhigg,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
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Overall, there is such a sense of championing both big filmmakers people admire and discovering new talent.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Throughout his career, Vō was revered for his talents as a colorist, collaborating with some of the most celebrated blondes in the business, from Paltrow to Britney Spears, Katherine Heigl and beyond.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
26 Jan. 2026
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Most families with dogs revere them.—
David L. Weimer,
The Conversation,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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One example of a prominent woman in these writings is Thecla, venerated for her persistence, courage and influence.—
Christy Cobb,
The Conversation,
16 Jan. 2026
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Walsh venerates Jimmy Kimmel Live!—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Later years are to be exalted and welcomed.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
17 Jan. 2026
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Later years are to be exalted and welcomed.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The United States respects the voice of the Iranian people and their aspirations.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Jan. 2026
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If emotions swell, take a breath and reflect on what actually nourishes your home rhythm, then offer a simple plan that respects both sides.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Knowing their dink would be praised.—
Pioneer Press,
Twin Cities,
25 Jan. 2026
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An uplifting voice As the marathon meeting announcing the venue changes neared its end in a nearly empty room, a parent rose to praise the board for keeping most school boundaries stable (ever-shifting school boundaries tore the district apart in the 1980s).—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Miles Mullin, the vice president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, said faith leaders can and often have led protests on social issues, but those should never prevent others from worshipping.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
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Oscar Wilde made the strongest case that worshipping beauty for its own sake can end only in death and destruction.—
Thomas Chatterton Williams,
The Atlantic,
19 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lionize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lionize. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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