1
as in to adore
to love or admire too much
people who hero-worship celebrities are setting themselves up for disappointment
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to overpraise
to praise too much
a golfing pro who is hero-worshipped by hordes of weekend duffers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example 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
Pete Hammond, Deadline, 20 Sep. 2024
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
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
Folie à Deux has much to say about the state of society and questionable hero worship in the name of keeping the masses entertained in a TMZ era.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 20 Sep. 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for hero-worship
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hero-worship
Verb
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Accessorize Your Existing Furniture Designer Amanda Jacobs adores the appeal of skirted furniture, viewing it as a finishing touch in any space.—
Lauren Jones,
Southern Living,
1 Mar. 2025
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This is nobody’s fault, and Katie adores Marnie, too, but who could blame her for feeling abandoned?—
Judy Berman,
TIME,
27 Feb. 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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Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls, military installations, airports, universities, tourist attractions, schools, hospitals, places of worship, and government facilities.—
William Lambers,
Newsweek,
10 Mar. 2025
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Residents have complained about chases in their neighborhoods and around schools, hospitals, and places of worship.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
The New Yorker,
10 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Jatropha plants do not like winter weather and even chilly conditions may cause leaf loss.—
Tom MacCubbin,
Orlando Sentinel,
1 Mar. 2025
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Francis likes to keep people on their toes and will have known that announcing the consistory would set off plenty of speculation.—
Christopher Lamb,
CNN,
1 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The comedian, who co-starred in Next Friday and Friday After Next, went on to praise Cube for putting people on.—
Mya Abraham,
VIBE.com,
4 Mar. 2025
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When challenges come up, be quick to praise but slow to blame.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes,
3 Mar. 2025
Noun
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There’s nothing basic about Denzel’s adoration for his wife, though.—
Victoria Uwumarogie,
Essence,
25 Feb. 2025
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Kathy Bates earns her Oscar and then some, taking Annie's terrifying adoration for James Caan's Sheldon to a disturbing, hide-your-eyes level.—
Brian Truitt,
USA TODAY,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Texas-born Pinky (Spacek) idolizes her coworker Millie (Duvall), which catapults them into a twisted relationship.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
3 Mar. 2025
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Morales is idolized by his followers, as Chávez, Che Guevara, and others have been by similar followers.—
Jay Nordlinger,
National Review,
26 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Stafford walked up to the podium, congratulated the team on its season and expressed his sympathy to those families in attendance who had been impacted by the Eaton fire that roared through Pasadena in January.—
Adam Grosbard,
Orange County Register,
5 Mar. 2025
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Knight’s sympathetic response is interrupted when Rhonda (Kathy Searle), Briarwood's exuberant security guard, rolls up in her golf cart to congratulate the pair on getting back together.—
Sara Netzley,
EW.com,
4 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hero-worship.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hero-worship. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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