1
as in to adore
to love or admire too much
people who hero-worship celebrities are setting themselves up for disappointment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to overpraise
to praise too much
a golfing pro who is hero-worshipped by hordes of weekend duffers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in worship
excessive admiration of or devotion to a person
once the object of uncritical hero worship, the aging quarterback now faces the derision of his team's fickle fans
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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 hero-worship
Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 Sep. 2024
There’s a pleasing economy to that set-up, establishing the family dynamic of a man ruled by a monomaniacal focus, a stoical woman who keeps her distance from his professional pursuits, and hero-worshipping sons who seem a safe bet to try to emulate their dad in the ring.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Sophie Pinkham, The New York Review of Books, 14 Mar. 2024
No one on the team knows about Sir and everyone on that team has a little hero worship where Gabi is concerned.
—Alamin Yohannes, EW.com, 4 Oct. 2023
See all Example Sentences for hero-worship 
Verb
The film’s gaze is arguably as mocking as it is dazzled — with the macho posturing and hero-worship of Roca Rey a tacit source of comedy — while Serra, living up to his reputation for challenging arthouse fare, doesn’t flinch in his presentation of animal abuse and suffering.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 Sep. 2024
There’s a pleasing economy to that set-up, establishing the family dynamic of a man ruled by a monomaniacal focus, a stoical woman who keeps her distance from his professional pursuits, and hero-worshipping sons who seem a safe bet to try to emulate their dad in the ring.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Noun
In the translator Jennifer Croft’s first novel, a band of translators from around the world navigates romantic entanglements and their hero worship of an elusive Polish author.
—Sophie Pinkham, The New York Review of Books, 14 Mar. 2024
No one on the team knows about Sir and everyone on that team has a little hero worship where Gabi is concerned.
—Alamin Yohannes, EW.com, 4 Oct. 2023
See all Example Sentences for hero-worship
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hero-worship
Verb
-
Still, Barkley was a fan favorite, and a team favorite, too, reportedly adored in the locker room.—
Becky Sullivan,
NPR,
25 Jan. 2025
-
At Moretti’s compound, April finds a cult-like atmosphere where the superstar is surrounded and adored by his devoted, doting stans.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Know-nothings pretend that Schrader’s Bressonian mannerisms reveal the spiritual depths of contemporary crisis, when, in fact, Master Gardener repeats the same social-collapse paranoia that made secular reviewers overpraise the religious, racial, suicide-bomber topics of First Reformed.—
Armond White,
National Review,
24 May 2023
-
He’s overpraised of course.—
Nick Laird,
The New York Review of Books,
16 Mar. 2023
Noun
-
The president has expanded ICE's authority, allowing immigration raids in schools, hospitals, and places of worship.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
31 Jan. 2025
-
The historic fires claimed 29 lives and destroyed more than 16,000 structures, including homes, schools, places of worship, and businesses.—
Sam Reed,
Glamour,
31 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
That’s ultimately the part of acting that Kelce likes the most.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN,
5 Feb. 2025
-
The Red Storm way St. John’s made only three 3-pointers and missed 14 of 31 free throws, but defense and rebounding led the way — just the way Pitino likes it.—
Ralph D. Russo,
The Athletic,
5 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
In an internal memo obtained by ABC News, Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger praised officers in the wake of the pardons.—
Jay O'Brien,
ABC News,
27 Jan. 2025
-
His versatility, work ethic and team-first attitude impressed former coach Tata Martino and Mascherano has praised him, as well.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
27 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
While it’s spoken of only briefly, his adoration for vintage McGwyer Mortimer is clearly a way of keeping alive the memory of his late wife, who was an even bigger fan.—
David Rooney,
The Hollywood Reporter,
1 Feb. 2025
-
The directors in both cases grapple with their obvious adoration for the entertainment that shaped them, juxtaposed with the acknowledgment that living through screens can only ever be a simulacrum and not a replacement for a fulfilling existence.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
31 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
By then, as a kid growing up in Le Mans, Rupert had come to idolize Batum.—
Jason Quick,
The Athletic,
16 Jan. 2025
-
Born in 1951 as the son of a Minnesota state senator, Dunlap grew up idolizing Chuck Berry, James Burton, Buddy Holly, Scotty Moore and Chet Atkins, by his own recollection.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
19 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Just weeks later, Jenna played coy about the ring when host Andy Cohen congratulated her and asked her to confirm the news.—
Esther Kang,
People.com,
29 Jan. 2025
-
The couple announced the pregnancy on Christmas Eve on their respective Instagrams where several Chiefs wives and girlfriends congratulated them.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
27 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near hero-worship
Cite this Entry
“Hero-worship.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hero-worship. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share