lionize

verb

li·​on·​ize ˈlī-ə-ˌnīz How to pronounce lionize (audio)
lionized; lionizing

transitive verb

: to treat as an object of great interest or importance
lionization noun
lionizer noun

Did you know?

Across time and across cultures—as evidenced from Chauvet-Pont d’Arc’s paintings to The Lion King—lions have captured people’s imaginations. Though the big cats themselves are fascinatingly complex, it’s perhaps no surprise that humans have long projected qualities of bravery and regality upon the proverbial “king of the beasts.” It is precisely those and similar admirable qualities that led, in the 18th century, to lion being used for a person who is similarly well-regarded, especially after a long and distinguished career in a particular field, as in “lion of the Senate,” or “literary lion.” This sense of lion imbues the verb lionize, which first appeared in English in the early 19th century to apply to acts of treating someone as, perhaps, deserving of roaring applause.

Examples of lionize in a Sentence

She was lionized everywhere after her novel won the Pulitzer Prize.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
There are so many people out there obsessed with what's happening, obsessed with him, lionize him. Katie Drummond, WIRED, 13 Feb. 2025 The youngest to accomplish something are often lionized, and impatience sets in if success is seen to take too long. Tania Ganguli, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025 Trump's years-long Orwellian disinformation campaign justifying the riot as legitimate political expression and lionizing the perpetrators as heroes suffering from unjust persecution succeeded in muddying what should have been crystal-clear waters. Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025 Star hosts like Sean Hannity and Jesse Watters can be expected to lionize Mr. Trump and the Fox alumni joining him in Washington. Michael M. Grynbaum, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lionize

Word History

First Known Use

1809, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lionize was in 1809

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Cite this Entry

“Lionize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lionize. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.

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