as in admires
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 lionizes
Weberman’s early release would place him back into a community that not only protects, but lionizes him.
—
Guila Benchimol, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2026
Guila Benchimol, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lionizes
Verb
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Matthew admires Ye-jin’s determination and focus.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
29 May 2026
-
Baker still admires much of the tech world.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
Verb
-
The annual award ceremony produced by ESPN, which honors the greatest achievements in sports, is set to air on July 15.—
Swasti Singhai,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
-
The Ministry of Interior of the Arab Republic of Egypt is receiving the 2026 MPA Creative Protector Award, which honors an individual or organization whose work has been critical in the global fight to combat digital piracy.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Kin Coedel collaborated with Meti and Hijra women in Nepal in the creation of Between Reverence and Refusal, giving them recognition and exposing the paradox of a culture that venerates femininity in myth but doesn’t acknowledge those who embody it in everyday life.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
1 June 2026
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Redemptive suffering Shared sorrow is a key part of Iran’s Twelver Shiite identity, which venerates the Prophet Muhammad’s family through daughter Fatima and cousin and son-in-law, Ali.—
Mary Thurlkill,
The Conversation,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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He was flattered to hear Breen still reveres him.—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
-
Today, the family reveres New York City — and not just as a mecca for fashion.—
Randee Dawn,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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An Amazon spokesperson told CNBC in a statement that the company respects its colleagues’ right to voice their opinions.—
Annie Palmer,
CNBC,
4 June 2026
-
Then back it with action, like severance that respects tenure, transparency about what's changing and why, and real help with landing somewhere good.—
Zak Ali,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
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At a time when our right to protest is under siege, this sci-fi yarn exalts the way an individual’s conviction can plant seeds of change, leading to a stronger sense of community.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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Boyes, too, exalts the elephants like a man possessed.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Anything Oprah repeatedly praises immediately piques my interest, but even more so when her favorites are podiatrist favorites.—
Alyssa Morin,
InStyle,
30 May 2026
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Environmental group praises acquisition Environmental advocates hailed the acquisition as a milestone for Hill Country preservation.—
Doug Myers,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
Verb
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The recognizing states will have to step up, too, by making their security guarantees concrete and by helping shape a Palestinian state that does not threaten its neighbors and dignifies its people by providing functioning institutions and proper services.—
SHIRA EFRON,
Foreign Affairs,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lionizes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lionizes. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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