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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hero-worship
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
In an accompanying statement, Yungblud said that the record explores the theme of hero-worship.
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Thomas Smith,
Billboard,
6 May 2025
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
11 Nov. 2025
Bruins players receive their share of glory and hero worship.
—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hero-worship
Verb
When The Athletic visited Tashkent for the March international break, the hero-worship hadn’t yet ceased; Cannavaro was applauded both into and out of the press conference room by journalists, while some asked for selfies.
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Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
In an accompanying statement, Yungblud said that the record explores the theme of hero-worship.
—
Thomas Smith,
Billboard,
6 May 2025
Noun
This is the vibe that Edgar Wright is chasing with his version of The Running Man, which hews closely to the original text with a fidelity bordering on hero worship.
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David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
11 Nov. 2025
Bruins players receive their share of glory and hero worship.
—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hero-worship
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hero-worship
Verb
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To adore the literary greats but reject any modicum of pretension?
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That’s how the Utah Jazz marketing department publicized the online sale of Darryn Peterson jerseys to adoring fans eager to purchase the uniform of the team’s first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Verb
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The result is sometimes overpraising, overprotection, and overindulging children, mixing emotional intensity with economic privilege in ways that breed entitlement.
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As in the case of that picture, East of Eden is backed up by masterful screen storytelling that can hardly be overpraised and is complicated by no message that can be termed controversial.
Noun
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Thousands gathered on Independence Mall Sunday evening for Gospel on Independence, filling the lawn with music, worship and anticipation before severe weather brought the event to an abrupt end.
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More than 140 family members and friends filled the 18th century Victorian house of worship’s wooden pews, iconic for featuring ornate animals carved into their ends.
Verb
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But Alonso also likes to offset the industrial nature of concrete with warmth.
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And that’s why Howard Zinn has sold 5 million copies, because teenagers sort of like to be in on something.
Verb
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Leaders from India’s ruling Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have publicly praised bhajan clubbing gatherings.
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Magazine, praising Swift's ability to handle intense public scrutiny.
Noun
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Marylanders showed their adoration by naming Montgomery County for him.
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Meanwhile, since the Scaloni era’s unprecedented winning streak, Argentineans’ adoration of Messi has, at last, become unconditional.
Verb
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McGonigle grew up in Aldan idolizing Phillies legend Chase Utley.
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There’s friction between the defense lawyer Sam (Nick Nolte) and his wife, Leigh (Jessica Lange), rooted in Sam’s past infidelity and his current flirtations with a young courthouse clerk who idolizes him.
Verb
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The State Department on Tuesday congratulated conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori after she was declared the winner of Peru’s presidential runoff election by a razor-thin margin.
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In 2010, on Respect for the Aged Day, Japanese officials sought out a Tokyo man named Sogen Kato to congratulate him on living to a hundred and eleven.
Cite this Entry
“Hero-worship.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hero-worship. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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