as in adoring
reflecting great admiration or devotion
gave his fiancée an idolizing glance
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in worshipping
to love or admire too much
she blindly idolized her older sister, refusing to acknowledge any of her faults
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of idolizing
Tom Dougherty, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
As with so many of his generation, Adebayo, 28, grew up idolizing the late Bryant.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026
For those of us who grew up idolizing the 38-year singer and actor, that candor is classic Hilary.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 17 Feb. 2026
Regenda grew up idolizing other Slovakian stars like Marian Hossa, Marian Gaborik, Pavol Demitra, and Zdeno Chara.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
But in October 2024, Vladimir Kramnik, a former Russian World Chess Champion who Naroditsky grew up idolizing, began publicly insinuating that Naroditsky might be using computer assistance during online games.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 18 Dec. 2025
Bergman grew up idolizing the famed attorney.
—Charlotte Alter, Time, 19 Nov. 2025
Smith grew up idolizing him as a boy in Louisville.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
Other pastors are cautioning against politicizing his death and warning against idolizing him over the gospel.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
McGonigle grew up idolizing Phillies legend Chase Utley, who is going into the club's Wall of Fame in August.
—Tom Dougherty, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
As with so many of his generation, Adebayo, 28, grew up idolizing the late Bryant.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026
For those of us who grew up idolizing the 38-year singer and actor, that candor is classic Hilary.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 17 Feb. 2026
Regenda grew up idolizing other Slovakian stars like Marian Hossa, Marian Gaborik, Pavol Demitra, and Zdeno Chara.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
But in October 2024, Vladimir Kramnik, a former Russian World Chess Champion who Naroditsky grew up idolizing, began publicly insinuating that Naroditsky might be using computer assistance during online games.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 18 Dec. 2025
Bergman grew up idolizing the famed attorney.
—Charlotte Alter, Time, 19 Nov. 2025
Smith grew up idolizing him as a boy in Louisville.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
Other pastors are cautioning against politicizing his death and warning against idolizing him over the gospel.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idolizing
Adjective
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Andrew Buss takes an adoring but critical eye to Superbad.—
Brian Boone,
Vulture,
12 Dec. 2025
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The Patriots’ pass coverage without Christian Gonzalez, their atrocious inside linebacker play and roller-coaster special teams, which give any adoring fan a heart attack at a moment’s notice.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The new action-horror-comedy follows Satan-worshipping tenants living in a luxury New York City building who perform ritualistic killings their mostly poor and marginalized staff.—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Mar. 2026
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Set inside a suspiciously anachronistic Dallas-area shopping mall, this recent SXSW premiere follows a quartet of young women working and worshipping at Free Eden.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Idolizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idolizing. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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