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
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
On Sunday, he was lionized as a Christian martyr and patriot committed to free expression and challenging liberal orthodoxy.
—Fortune, 22 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
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
By the late 18th century, he had been lionized as a national hero who established the first, lasting European contact with the continent.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
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
On Sunday, he was lionized as a Christian martyr and patriot committed to free expression and challenging liberal orthodoxy.
—Fortune, 22 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
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
By the late 18th century, he had been lionized as a national hero who established the first, lasting European contact with the continent.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lionized
Verb
-
Asking one of fashion’s most influential and admired designers to make your child a diaper is truly a testament to Rihanna’s star power.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
22 Apr. 2026
-
For nearly a decade, Denver resident Vinny Del Giudice admired the sculpture that stood in the front yard of his Congress Park home.—
Brian Maass,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
He was also honored in the Mariners Hall of Fame in 2022.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Now a sneaker free agent after his high-profile departure from longtime sponsor Under Armour, Curry honored James with a blue-and-yellow version of the LeBron X iD sneakers.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Nicknamed Wilmywood, Wilmington has long been revered by Hollywood for its mild temperatures and versatility—and recently, travelers have begun to take note.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The epic is revered by Hindus as a sacred devotional text.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Short has previously praised his Oscar-winning costar for her demeanor on set, sharing what might surprise fans most about working with her.—
Deirdre Durkan,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The director praised the major American distributor at length while speaking alongside producing partner Emilie Lesclaux at this year’s Projeto Paradiso National Talent Network Meeting, held in their hometown of Recife.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Wang told Araghchi that the situation has reached a critical juncture between war and peace, and said Iran’s sovereignty, security, and legitimate rights should be respected as a littoral state of the Strait of Hormuz, while freedom of navigation and safety through the strait should be ensured.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Wang Yi told Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in a phone call late Wednesday that Iran's sovereignty, security, and legitimate rights should be respected as a littoral state of the Strait of Hormuz, but freedom of navigation and safety through the strait should be ensured.—
April 16,
CBS News,
16 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 23 Apr. 2026.
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