LIONIZE Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

lionize

verb

Definition of lionize

as in to honor

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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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 lionize Greenspan was the rare celebrity among central bankers, lionized for his economic stewardship in the 1990s. — Scott Horsley, NPR, 22 June 2026 Jay Cooke, who had once been lionized for his role in financing the Union victory, was attacked in the press and accused of cheating ordinary Americans out of their savings. — John Cassidy, New Yorker, 15 June 2026 Popular culture really likes to lionize chosen families. — Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 9 June 2026 While other sporting events have similar impacts on one or a few countries, none sweep up dozens of nations — and perhaps entire continents — like the World Cup. — Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 8 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for lionize

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lionize

Verb

During opening night of his 30-show run at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, Harry Styles took a moment to honor country icon Dolly Parton following her death on Tuesday.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2026
Known widely for her philanthropic efforts, the family encouraged devoted fans to honor Parton’s legacy by donating to a special cause close to her heart — Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

— Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of honor

Verb

The Athletic reported on Sunday that Unai Emery’s side had made an initial approach to sign the 22-year-old defender, having previously revealed that Ordonez was highly admired and had been tracked by Villa.

— Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
She was also widely admired for her philanthropy including her Imagination Library program, which has gifted more than 300 million books to children across the world over 31 years.

— Joey Garrison, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of admire

Verb

Deploy cunning and operate in darkness, like those shapeshifting, half-human, half-wolf creatures revered in German folklore.

— Danielle Parker, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
In a sport like golf, where grinders like Clark are revered, that sort of head-down, do-the-work attitude may be what ends up appealing to fans.

— Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of revere

Verb

Other venerated South Side joints included Pepper’s Lounge, the Dew Drop Inn, and Theresa’s Lounge, the latter of which was tucked away in the basement of an apartment building.

— René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026
Not asked enough by those who venerated Graham is why in death the patriot’s name must be associated with what’s so inimical to American prosperity and freedom.

— John Tamny, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of venerate

Verb

The women exalted in these spaces put their face on in the morning—as a woman from the 1950s might say.

— Robin Givhan, Vanity Fair, 19 Aug. 2026
This has been an awesome showcase of American community, with our own USMNT support and other countries’ diasporas springing up exalting watch parties all over the place.

— Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 19 July 2026

Definition of exalt

Verb

Scorpio October 23 – November 21 The group plan needs to respect you commitments close to home.

— Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Aug. 2026
The same self-understanding that helps a lawyer address burnout also helps colleagues respect each other’s views across the table, rather than mistaking difference for disagreement.

— Malana VanTyler, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of respect

Verb

The scholar of religion Friedrich Max Müller (1823–1900) noticed that many Vedic hymns praise different deities using the same superlatives and ascribe to them the same mythological feats.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
Head coach Willie Simmons praised his team’s athleticism and talent through fall camp, while emphasizing the X’s and O’s with the season opener approaching.

— Alejandro Hernandez, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of praise

Verb

Shankara advises that worshipping gods with names and stories through devotional rituals and sacred images (murtis) is an acceptable step for some people on the path toward a more philosophical understanding of an all-pervasive ultimate reality.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
She was promoted to worship leader, a job typically held by an older member of the church.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of worship

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lionize

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“Lionize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lionize. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of lionize

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