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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Recent Examples of lionize
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
During the era of hip-hop and Hollywood’s new black intellectual properties (Eddie Murphy, Prince, Spike Lee, et al.), Wilson was lionized as American theater’s foremost black playwright.
—Armond White, National Review, 27 Dec. 2024
Rather than simplistically lionizing the frikis, the directors honor their plight by portraying them as an example of how the human spirit perseveres even when nearly crushed.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 20 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for lionize
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
During the era of hip-hop and Hollywood’s new black intellectual properties (Eddie Murphy, Prince, Spike Lee, et al.), Wilson was lionized as American theater’s foremost black playwright.
—Armond White, National Review, 27 Dec. 2024
Rather than simplistically lionizing the frikis, the directors honor their plight by portraying them as an example of how the human spirit perseveres even when nearly crushed.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 20 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for lionize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lionize
Verb
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To celebrate the reissue, Sprouse’s graffiti designs will be projected across New York City to honor the artist’s creative legacy and lasting influence.—
Julia Teti,
WWD,
19 Mar. 2025
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How does Jaji balance honoring traditional Afghan recipes while introducing modern techniques and diaspora influences?—
Chelsea Davis,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
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There are plenty of other works up here worth admiring here, too: a ca.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
26 Mar. 2025
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But when Rogen wasn’t being interrupted by his admiring bro-fans, who were legion — one wore toe shoes and a Lil Dicky shirt; another cried — Amoeba was, however, a perfect place to dig through hundreds of vinyl soundtracks.—
Austin Considine,
New York Times,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Even without other big hits, the group remains revered in certain punk-rock circles.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
23 Mar. 2025
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Olive trees have long been revered not only for their fruit and oil but also for the resilience encoded in their DNA.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Also, a subculture referred to as Saints Culture, which venerates mass killers as almost superhuman figures, frames high-casualty attacks as the ultimate and only legacy worth emulating.—
Odette Yousef,
NPR,
8 Mar. 2025
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Aquinas adds – and to me this is one of the most beautiful aspects of his reflections on relics – that venerating a relic is also a way of looking forward to the future resurrection of the body.—
Therese Cory,
The Conversation,
28 Jan. 2025
Verb
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In exalting above all other concerns his personal conception of the institutional integrity of the Supreme Court, and by extension the entire judiciary, Roberts has ironically done more than anyone else to delegitimize the courts.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
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The sound is so present that even the smallest thing is exalted.—
Carlos Aguilar,
IndieWire,
8 Mar. 2025
Verb
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In fact, your age often brings instant credibility—people respect experience, confidence, and the ability to deliver results without the fluff.—
Melissa Houston,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
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Religious institutions, with their deep local roots and community trust, are uniquely positioned to create housing that respects neighborhood character while addressing urgent needs.—
Kathryn Wylde,
New York Daily News,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Participants frequently praise Finland’s egalitarian business culture and efficient decision-making processes.—
Jessica Mendoza,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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Greene deflected and bashed the Biden administration while praising the Trump administration before circling back to the purpose of the news conference.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The cluster of musicians were joined onstage by a soulful choir wearing black praise and worship robes.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
19 Mar. 2025
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For centuries, new technologies have changed the ways people worship, from the radio in the 1920s to television sets in the 1950s and the internet in the 1990s.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
The Denver Post,
8 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lionize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lionize. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
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