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
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
Keïta is lionized in the photo world, and in the art world at large, and rightfully so.
—Zoë Hopkins, New Yorker, 7 Feb. 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
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
Keïta is lionized in the photo world, and in the art world at large, and rightfully so.
—Zoë Hopkins, New Yorker, 7 Feb. 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
-
Who hasn't admired a backyard pond and wanted one of their very own?—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Hawthorne admired his friend’s new novel.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Maurice and Jammy Davies honored their daughter Chelsea’s wishes and donated her liver to a Connecticut man named Patrick.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The students were honored at a pep rally Friday and will be treated to a lunch field trip next week at a restaurant of their choosing.—
Sophie Bates,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Buffett highlighted a chart in the text displaying that at the craze’s peak in March of 2000, that number, now revered as the Buffett indicator, reached a vertiginous 200%.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Victor Wembanyama is as revered a defender as there is in these playoffs.—
The Athletic NBA Staff,
New York Times,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In his post-match press conference, Arteta praised the courage of his players to play short, even after the Emirates crowd weren’t pleased with how that first move failed.—
Ahmed Walid,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The outlet praised a few heartier combinations, such as the Steakhouse Salad Stuffer, but argued against the value.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Sarver is widely respected for her ability to bring people together and resolve conflict with empathy and intention.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The man was kind, well-respected and eager to marry his daughter off.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
There, at the present-day Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a bishop held up the cross for several hours as the faithful venerated it.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
They were venerated as their tribes’ leaders.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
For nearly three decades, Muslims have worshiped at that 1,200-square-foot home on Bush Street without incident.—
Connor Letourneau,
San Francisco Chronicle,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The Romans worshipped power and dominance.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lionized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lionized. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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