as in worship
excessive admiration of or devotion to a person
the mass idolization of the Renaissance artist continues to this day
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Recent Examples of idolization
The idolization of Steve Spurrier, dating a UF alum and understanding of Florida recruiting after a stint at FAU rang seemed to work in his favor.
—
Noah White, Miami Herald, 30 Nov. 2025
But even more clear to me this go-around was that Bella's idolization of Edward comes from a horrifyingly insecure place.
—USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
Noah White, Miami Herald, 30 Nov. 2025
But even more clear to me this go-around was that Bella's idolization of Edward comes from a horrifyingly insecure place.
—USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idolization
Noun
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And two-thirds say churches and other houses of worship should keep out of political matters.—
Yonat Shimron,
NPR,
15 May 2026
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But the chapel, heavy with the scent of ecclesiastical incense, felt as genuine as could be, worn from nearly two centuries of worship.—
Paul Brady,
Travel + Leisure,
15 May 2026
Noun
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Yet she’s viewed, like everything else in the movie, with an adoration that is nearly transcendental.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
16 May 2026
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There’s probably a smart, chilling film to be made about the terrors of smothering and relentless adoration — one imagines what Rod Serling would have done with something like this — but this isn’t really that film.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
Noun
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The two groups displayed a large balloon near the mall of a Trump-like golden calf, a biblical reference to idolatry.—
Tiffany Stanley,
Los Angeles Times,
17 May 2026
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Pastor Burns defended the installation via a lengthy public statement after critics compared it to the biblical golden calf, a symbol associated with idolatry.—
Tiago Ventura,
Time,
15 May 2026
Noun
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By the nail holes above and beside the worshiping altar, the household hung garlands.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Feb. 2026
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Afternoons are made for fresh piña coladas, languid sun worshipping, and offshore adventures on motorboats fully stocked with snorkels, fins, and local beer.—
Rosalyn Wikeley,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The crowd begged him to come out, tip his cap, take their adulation.—
Paul Hardart,
Fortune,
9 May 2026
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But those self-adulations are often coupled with warnings that economic development success doesn’t happen by accident and can quickly slip away.—
Zachary Hansen,
AJC.com,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The deification and worship of Japanese war criminals responsible for some of the Japanese Empire’s worst crimes in Korea and China has long been a source of rancor in the region.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Apr. 2026
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In this plane of existence, though, these reports of abuse will at least put an end to his much undeserved deification by Mexican-American and other activists.—
Sal Rodriguez,
Oc Register,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Idolization.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idolization. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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