as in admired
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 lionized
Nursing has long been lionized as one of the most stable and safe professions for young graduates to pursue.
—
Tristan Bove, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
His work here should be respected, not lionized.
—Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
Some people have lionized Mangione as a sort of vigilante hero.
—CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
Some people have lionized Mangione as a sort of vigilante hero.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
To see that kind of big-budget artistry properly lionized, given some of the duds the Academy has recognized in recent years—I’m looking at you, Green Book—felt like a true triumph.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
Keïta is lionized in the photo world, and in the art world at large, and rightfully so.
—Zoë Hopkins, New Yorker, 7 Feb. 2026
Barry Goldwater thundered against centralized power, Ronald Reagan lionized hands-off government and liberty, and even Richard Nixon respected certain limits.
—Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Today, though, Oppenheimer is lionized while Bush is little known outside a small circle of historians, computer scientists, and policy thinkers.
—IEEE Spectrum, 18 June 2024
Tristan Bove, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
His work here should be respected, not lionized.
—Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
Some people have lionized Mangione as a sort of vigilante hero.
—CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
Some people have lionized Mangione as a sort of vigilante hero.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
To see that kind of big-budget artistry properly lionized, given some of the duds the Academy has recognized in recent years—I’m looking at you, Green Book—felt like a true triumph.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
Keïta is lionized in the photo world, and in the art world at large, and rightfully so.
—Zoë Hopkins, New Yorker, 7 Feb. 2026
Barry Goldwater thundered against centralized power, Ronald Reagan lionized hands-off government and liberty, and even Richard Nixon respected certain limits.
—Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Today, though, Oppenheimer is lionized while Bush is little known outside a small circle of historians, computer scientists, and policy thinkers.
—IEEE Spectrum, 18 June 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lionized
Verb
-
In an inversion of the more common critical reception of an emerging artist, this new writer’s poetry was often noticed but seldom admired, notwithstanding the Daily Mirror’s snide enthusiasm.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
From the beginning, it was admired by the other recording acts.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
Catilin Clark is just starting her third WNBA season, and she is already being honored for a big career achievement in a pregame ceremony.—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
-
In 2025, White Snail, directed by Elsa Kremser and Levin Peter, was honored with the special jury prize and a best performance award at the Locarno Film Festival.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
He was also revered as a civil rights activist pushing for quality healthcare, women’s rights, living wages, racial and immigrant justice, and gender and LGBTQ equality.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2026
-
She was also revered for her charity work, most notably for those living with HIV and AIDS, receiving the Presidential Citizens Medal from President Bill Clinton in 2001.—
Kate Hogan,
PEOPLE,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson praised the coordinated response from local and regional law enforcement agencies, including the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, Manor Police Department and Texas Department of Public Safety.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
-
Bickerstaff repeatedly praised the growth and resilience of a roster that rapidly developed into a contender.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Language access, cultural competency and workforce representation all play critical role in helping people feel respected, heard and supported throughout the healing journey.—
Maria Bledsoe,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 May 2026
-
At her school, Nguyen is respected for her exceptional abilities and willingness to push boundaries.—
Paul Hodgins,
Oc Register,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Our Lady of Guadalupe is represented pregnant and venerated by devotees seeking protection and peace.—
Marie-Claire Beaulieu,
The Conversation,
5 May 2026
-
In that vein, there has recently been considerable attention paid to Hasan Piker, the controversial influencer whom progressives have venerated yet whose extremism and anti-American tirades worry moderates — and give Republicans ammunition.—
Douglas E. Schoen,
Washington Post,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This is a story of such epic scale, yet of such personal and internal conflict, of a man who saved millions of lives, becoming both worshiped as a God and reviled as the devil.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
-
The delicate, asthmatic Audrey worshiped her suave, playboy father.—
Hadley Hall Meares,
Vanity Fair,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lionized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lionized. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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