as in admired
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 lionized
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
Nursing has long been lionized as one of the most stable and safe professions for young graduates to pursue.
—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
His work here should be respected, not lionized.
—
Jon Greenberg,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 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
To see that kind of big-budget artistry properly lionized, given some of the duds the Academy has recognized in recent years—I’m looking at you, Green Book—felt like a true triumph.
—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
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
Today, though, Oppenheimer is lionized while Bush is little known outside a small circle of historians, computer scientists, and policy thinkers.
—
IEEE Spectrum,
18 June 2024
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
Nursing has long been lionized as one of the most stable and safe professions for young graduates to pursue.
—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
His work here should be respected, not lionized.
—
Jon Greenberg,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 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
To see that kind of big-budget artistry properly lionized, given some of the duds the Academy has recognized in recent years—I’m looking at you, Green Book—felt like a true triumph.
—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
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
Today, though, Oppenheimer is lionized while Bush is little known outside a small circle of historians, computer scientists, and policy thinkers.
—
IEEE Spectrum,
18 June 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lionized
Verb
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Those comments will have been warmly welcomed back in Europe by Barcelona’s hierarchy, who will consider his words public confirmation that a player hugely admired by club president Joan Laporta wants to join them.
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Brazil, a country long admired by Haitian fans and players, the toughest.
Verb
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With that goal — and a lot of political influence and fundraising by Chicago businessmen — the city won the vote to host the World's Columbian Exhibition in 1893, which honored the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' arrival in the Americas.
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The 1983 White Sox, who won the AL West, were honored before Saturday’s game between Chicago and Kansas City.
Verb
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Lage may not quite be a household name, but he’s revered in musician circles, and is generally considered one of the most talented and versatile players on the planet.
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Washington, Lincoln, Gandhi, and Mandela are revered globally and celebrated in their own lands.
Verb
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The coalition of groups associated with the lawsuit praised the ruling.
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Cue also praised Apple’s studio chiefs, Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg.
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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Black lives must be respected in Nassau County, and Black history must be respected as American history.
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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Quite literally worshipped by some extreme members of society.
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The young couple and their daughter, Rose, worshipped in a stately Victorian Gothic church, where Almanzo’s parents were members and his sisters were married.
Cite this Entry
“Lionized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lionized. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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