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
That brings us back to the folly of lionizing Kent as a conscientious objector to Trump and the president’s hawkish foreign policy as of late.
—
David M. Drucker, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2026
Los Angeles educators were also directed to immediately shift from lionizing Chávez to honoring instead the farmworkers’ movement.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026
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
David M. Drucker, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2026
Los Angeles educators were also directed to immediately shift from lionizing Chávez to honoring instead the farmworkers’ movement.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lionizing
Verb
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On that day, the game itself was overshadowed by a brotherhood within the sport, with both teams honoring Liam before the start of the championship match.—
Rick Ritter,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
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In April 2026, ten additional sites were added, including the Charles Young Center, honoring the brigadier general who was the highest-ranking Black officer of his era.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
19 May 2026
Verb
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From island hopping along the always-sunny Maldives and admiring pink sands in the Bahamas, to coconut mangrove-trekking in the Philippines and biking past pineapple fields in French Polynesia, tropical charm manifests in an array of ways.—
Skyli Alvarez,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 May 2026
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Garden diplomacy At their last meeting on Friday the two leaders toured the gardens at Zhongnanhai, with Trump admiring the roses.—
Jennifer Pak,
NPR,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Andrews, 64, revealed he was diagnosed in the fall of 2025, praising the nonprofit ALS Network for creating a sense of community for the couple following his diagnosis.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
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Andrews has since partnered with the ALS Network, praising the organization for providing him and his fiancée, actress Erica Tazel, with a sense of community.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
18 May 2026
Verb
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His whole combo — coddling yet revering — makes clear how this hopeless estate chugged along for so long.—
Theater Critic,
San Francisco Chronicle,
5 Feb. 2026
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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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Jellicle Ball joins that lineage, inviting its audience to experience the joys of the Black and Latino ball scene while venerating its bittersweet roots.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Apr. 2026
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Exquisite dribblers such as Olise need protecting and venerating.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Today, only a handful of brands can pride themselves in constantly fueling aspiration while respecting legacy, such as Hermès or Patek Philippe.—
Clara Ludmir,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
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Professionalism means showing up prepared, delivering on promises and respecting your audience.—
Victoria Chynoweth,
Rolling Stone,
12 May 2026
Verb
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Dungo’s graphic novel blends this youthful love story with the history of surfing, something Kristen deeply respects, worshipping at the altar of history’s famous surfers in an almost existential fashion.—
Tomris Laffly,
Variety,
13 May 2026
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Bowing down and worshiping an idol is sinful.—
Lauren Costantino,
Miami Herald,
12 May 2026
Verb
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The story goes that Balanchine was so struck by the multi-colored glow of the jewelry displays at the Van Cleef & Arpels New York showroom that this led him to create a dance exalting their beauty.—
Guillermo Perez,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Lionizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lionizing. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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