as in honoring
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 lionizing
Gelles avoids lionizing Patagonia’s leader, describing Chouinard’s mercurial leadership style that often bewildered his staff at Patagonia.
—
Maya Silver, Outside, 20 Oct. 2025
Maya Silver, Outside, 20 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lionizing
Verb
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Last month, Denver City Councilwoman Stacie Gilmore invited Justice to speak at a council meeting attended by Allison, who was there for a proclamation honoring the 120th National Western Stock Show — which the Westernaires traditionally perform at.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
24 Feb. 2026
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But celebrating the disco era by honoring its great superstar Gloria Gaynor?—
Sean Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After admiring the Pleiades, turn your telescope to the moon's surface to explore a host of spectacular impact craters and lunar seas scarring Earth's natural satellite.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
23 Feb. 2026
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Everyone from camera-snapping tourists to devoted architecture fans makes a beeline for the Opera House, some just admiring it from afar, others keen to discover details.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last year, the publication ran a piece praising Kirk’s style.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
23 Feb. 2026
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Come January 2026, Abrams wasn’t afraid to drop the L-word in a pair of Instagram stories praising the cast of Mescal’s film Hamnet.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Chu sits at the center of Hollywood, and grew up in Silicon Valley revering engineers.—
Andrew R. Chow,
Time,
14 Nov. 2025
Verb
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And, online, there has been a never-ending stream of posts venerating Kirk as a martyr who died defending white Christian values.—
Ryan Broderick,
Rolling Stone,
24 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Brodsky advised his listeners to give up trying to evade the feeling, and start respecting it.—
Daniel Smith,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2026
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Tyner says the challenge is to provide activities that interest younger golfers while respecting the sentiments of longtime members.—
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett,
USA Today,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After a childhood spent worshipping the Ramones and the Replacements, Billie Joe Armstrong co-founded Green Day with bassist Mike Dirnt in 1987.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Feb. 2026
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Freedom of religion Those who were worshipping at Cities Church when the service was disrupted also have a First Amendment right to practice their religion.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As Alvarado explores repeatedly, Valdez rejected that pathway, instead honing his indigenous roots, and dedicating his life to exalting those who, like him, exist in the in-between.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
23 Jan. 2026
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The executive is looking to bring the Kate Somerville brand back to a strong position by leaning into its clinical roots and exalting its hero ExfoliKate line of cleansers and treatments, priced between $46 for a foaming wash and $85 for an exfoliating treatment.—
Noor Lobad,
Footwear News,
30 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lionizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lionizing. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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