1
as in to adore
to love or admire too much
people who hero-worship celebrities are setting themselves up for disappointment
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2
as in to overpraise
to praise too much
a golfing pro who is hero-worshipped by hordes of weekend duffers
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as in worship
excessive admiration of or devotion to a person
once the object of uncritical hero worship, the aging quarterback now faces the derision of his team's fickle fans
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of hero-worship
Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 Sep. 2024
There’s a pleasing economy to that set-up, establishing the family dynamic of a man ruled by a monomaniacal focus, a stoical woman who keeps her distance from his professional pursuits, and hero-worshipping sons who seem a safe bet to try to emulate their dad in the ring.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Sophie Pinkham, The New York Review of Books, 14 Mar. 2024
No one on the team knows about Sir and everyone on that team has a little hero worship where Gabi is concerned.
—Alamin Yohannes, EW.com, 4 Oct. 2023
See all Example Sentences for hero-worship 
Verb
The film’s gaze is arguably as mocking as it is dazzled — with the macho posturing and hero-worship of Roca Rey a tacit source of comedy — while Serra, living up to his reputation for challenging arthouse fare, doesn’t flinch in his presentation of animal abuse and suffering.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 Sep. 2024
There’s a pleasing economy to that set-up, establishing the family dynamic of a man ruled by a monomaniacal focus, a stoical woman who keeps her distance from his professional pursuits, and hero-worshipping sons who seem a safe bet to try to emulate their dad in the ring.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Noun
In the translator Jennifer Croft’s first novel, a band of translators from around the world navigates romantic entanglements and their hero worship of an elusive Polish author.
—Sophie Pinkham, The New York Review of Books, 14 Mar. 2024
No one on the team knows about Sir and everyone on that team has a little hero worship where Gabi is concerned.
—Alamin Yohannes, EW.com, 4 Oct. 2023
See all Example Sentences for hero-worship
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hero-worship
Verb
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The underlying numbers adore Pepi, with FBref’s statistical profile analysis comparing his favorably to Viktor Gyökeres of Sporting CP (this winter’s hot striker target) and Evanilson of Bournemouth (who left Porto last summer).Jeff Rueter, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
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Paired with an elegant tap and handles, the result is an unusual, old-fashioned bathroom sink that Instagram users have adored.John Mac Ghlionn, Newsweek, 13 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Know-nothings pretend that Schrader’s Bressonian mannerisms reveal the spiritual depths of contemporary crisis, when, in fact, Master Gardener repeats the same social-collapse paranoia that made secular reviewers overpraise the religious, racial, suicide-bomber topics of First Reformed.Armond White, National Review, 24 May 2023
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He’s overpraised of course.Nick Laird, The New York Review of Books, 16 Mar. 2023
Noun
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Our inner landscapes shifted to accommodate new forms of beauty, old forms of worship.hazlitt.net, hazlitt.net, 4 Jan. 2025
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The church, a vital space for many local immigrant families, made the decision to prioritize the safety of its parishioners, as anxiety builds over potential immigration raids in places of worship.Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Perhaps Edwards didn’t like where his in-bounds pass to Randle wound up.Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 12 Jan. 2025
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The Panthers had to give up what turned out to only be a fifth-round pick to get Mayfield, who like Darnold would be playing on an expiring contract.Charlotte Observer, Orlando Sentinel, 12 Jan. 2025
Verb
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But while law enforcement praises corporations for handing over driver data, others are concerned that most of the information collected could be violating people’s privacy.Chris Isidore, CNN, 15 Jan. 2025
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The conversation between the three actresses then shifted to Shields' praising Swift for discussing body image and the pressure to look perfect during her 2020 documentary, Miss Americana.Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Jenn Tran is shedding more light on her Dancing with the Stars partnership and adoration for Sasha Farber.Stephanie Wenger, People.com, 7 Jan. 2025
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Fux highlights the construction of the diva persona and the dynamic between admiration and adoration.David Nikel, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Fleetwood Mac in Chicago (1969) Like the other British blues bands of the ’60s, Fleetwood Mac’s early lineup idolized American bluesmen, and jumped at the chance to record with them.Al Shipley, SPIN, 9 Jan. 2025
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Montreal Canadiens forward Cole Caufield, who grew up idolizing Johnny, changed his jersey number to 13, the same number Johnny wore.Hailey Salvian, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
Verb
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One notable reaction however was from Strong’s Armageddon Time co-star Hathaway who took to Instagram to joke about Strong’s look while congratulating him on his nomination.Lexy Perez, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Jan. 2025
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Vance shook the hands of Republicans congratulating him, with some members stopping him for photos.Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near hero-worship
Cite this Entry
“Hero-worship.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hero-worship. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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