LIONIZES Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

lionizes

verb

present tense third-person singular of lionize

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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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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lionizes

Verb

Hackinen, a rider that Tonsager admires, appreciates Tonsager’s approach to competition.

— Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 4 Oct. 2026
Art can use life without requiring the artist to remain permanently available to anyone who admires the finished work.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of admires

Verb

Inaugurated in 2014 by the Noguchi Museum in New York, the annual prize honors individuals who share Noguchi’s innovative spirit and commitment to creativity.

— News Desk, Artforum, 15 Oct. 2026
Kamran Pasha has devised a truly unique take that honors the source material while expanding it in an enthralling, unexpected way.

— Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of honors

Verb

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
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

Definition of venerates

Verb

Among other things, Hinduism reveres femininity through the worship of powerful goddesses, including Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom; Kali, the goddess who destroys evil and ego; and Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity.

— Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2026
While Western climbers regard Everest as a peak to be conquered, Tenzing reveres it as a sacred mother goddess.

— Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of reveres

Verb

Statham said the Good Earth Cotton model has shown her that by and large, farmers want to do the right thing and appreciate guidance that respects their knowledge of their own businesses.

— Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
The territory’s strategy is to build a sustainable tourism model that respects its environmental assets while increasing the economic contribution of the sector.

— Panorama Media Ltd, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of respects

Verb

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
Boyes, too, exalts the elephants like a man possessed.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2026

Definition of exalts

Verb

The editorial praises the Shedd for trying to save the whales in this time of crisis, even though the animals had a record of previous poor living conditions and dubious care.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026
Sandy praises her crew for performing efficiently under pressure, and gives out the $1,807 each of them earned from a $23,500 tip.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of praises

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“Lionizes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lionizes. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of lionizes

verb

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