as in admired
to treat (someone) as a very important and famous person
She was lionized everywhere after her novel won the Pulitzer Prize.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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 lionized
That was under a government led by the founders of the state, and much lionized by liberal Zionists.
—
Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 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
Barry Goldwater thundered against centralized power, Ronald Reagan lionized hands-off government and liberty, and even Richard Nixon respected certain limits.
—Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 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
Barry Goldwater thundered against centralized power, Ronald Reagan lionized hands-off government and liberty, and even Richard Nixon respected certain limits.
—Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lionized
Verb
-
Yet that has happened on only four occasions this season and, while Newcastle are looking to recruit a left-back this month — Toulouse’s Dayann Methalie is admired — Miley has unexpectedly emerged as a genuine option at right-back.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Ahn won five Grand Bell Awards for best actor, a record, and was widely admired for a career defined by consistency and an absence of scandal.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Over the course of his career, he has been honored by the Cannes, Berlin and Venice film festivals, as well as the Golden Globes, SAG Awards and major critics’ groups.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Beavers said the evening meetings have a speaker, honored guests and various activities, including 50/50 prizes and cash drawings.—
Elizabeth Marie Himchak,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Hong Kong — A Chinese coffee chain has apologized and changed its name after state media roasted it for misusing a word revered by the nation’s communist government.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Among those who revered him and were swayed by his counsel in various instances was Manny Machado.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Special teams coordinator Tracy Smith has also routinely praised Scott’s willingness to do whatever is asked of him.—
Mike Kaye
January 8,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Officials praised the responders and said many of them received specialized water rescue training thanks to a federal grant.—
Christine Sloan,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Under all circumstances, the principles of international law and the UN Charter must be respected.—
Sydney Topf,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Jan. 2026
-
In Europe, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez urged all parties to de-escalate tensions and act responsibly, stressing that international law and the UN Charter must be respected.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Yoji shared that venerated director Akira Kurosawa always said that the camera should never be on stage when shooting a kabuki performance, nor move around to get close to the actors.—
Sara Merican,
Deadline,
3 Nov. 2025
-
This is something new in the techno-sphere that for the longest time elevated and venerated the founder/CEO as superstar.—
Neil Senturia,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Irish, Italian, German, and Polish communities each worshipped—in Latin—at their own churches, often within blocks of one another.—
Paul Elie,
New Yorker,
5 Jan. 2026
-
As their youngest uncle, Turner’s nieces and nephews worshiped him.—
Roni Jacobson,
New York Daily News,
4 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lionized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lionized. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share