LIONIZED Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

lionized

verb

past tense of lionize

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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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 Soaring energy prices and inflation have added to the burden as the tourism sector struggles to draw visitors to landscapes lionized in Hollywood by Peter O’Toole, Harrison Ford and Matt Damon. — ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026 Fauci, 85, truly one of humanity’s great public health heroes, will be lionized in history long after mediocrities like Paul, Uthmeier and Scott have been relegated to footnotes. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026 Greenspan was the rare celebrity among central bankers, lionized for his economic stewardship in the 1990s — and a reputation tarnished by the global financial crisis of 2008. — June 22, 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 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lionized

Verb

Brooks, a pastry chef through and through, had suggested Bread and Salt, a bakery I’d never been to but had admired for years.

— Tanya Bush, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Oct. 2026
Analisa Gabriel brought her niece, Gabrielle Diaz, a recent college graduate who has admired the Obamas for years.

— Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of admired

Verb

Clemson offensive lineman Elyjah Thurmon was honored to carry the American flag down the hill during his team's traditional game-day entrance in celebrating Military Appreciation Day.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
In a statement acknowledging the inclement weather, the Guardians also said tickets purchased for Friday night’s game would be honored.

— Chantz Martin OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of honored

Verb

Naomi Ackie, who plays the scientist charged with Hagen’s experimental procedure, praised how her co-star shouldered what was a very challenging role.

— Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
At a news conference Friday, police also praised a teacher who threw a cellphone at the gunman, tackled him and fought to take his weapon.

— Kerry Breen, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of praised

Verb

Matsumoto said the company respected Dwarf’s creativity and was prepared to pay enough, but full funding would have left the studio with no control over a highly original project.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
Cultural sensitivities around Sherpas handling a dead body would also need to be respected, said Dawa.

— Helen Regan, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of respected

Verb

Reed, venerated for his solo artistry and collaborations with the Velvet Underground, is a quintessential New York City artist of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s.

— Julia Teti, Footwear News, 25 Sep. 2026
Since at least 1389, two vials purportedly containing the saint’s blood have been venerated in Naples because of their inexplicable ability to liquefy on his feast days.

— Clare Whitton, The Conversation, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of venerated

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“Lionized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lionized. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of lionized

verb

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