IDOLIZE Synonyms: 39 Similar and Opposite Words

idolize

verb

ˈī-də-ˌlīz

Definition of idolize

as in to adore

to love or admire too much she blindly idolized her older sister, refusing to acknowledge any of her faults

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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.

Recent Examples of idolize Fothergill, who grew up in Minnesota idolizing Moss, said his partner held his own on the water, using forward-facing sonar to locate fish sitting 70 to 90 feet deep. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 31 Aug. 2026 Like most wide-eyed tennis players with dreams of going pro, Navarro grew up idolizing Williams, 44. — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026 Even before her death, though, some people idolized her in a saint-like way. — Sarah Dees, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026 After the September 2025 shooting, law enforcement said the social media companies were slow to produce information about the shooter's online profiles, which included posts idolizing of other mass shooters. — Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for idolize

Recent Examples of Synonyms for idolize

Verb

Back on property, the outdoor pool sits peacefully at the edge of the vineyard next to two large oaks (one of which has a storybook-like swing hanging from it, which the youngest guests adored).

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
These cheery yellow flowers produce a thin, needlelike seed that is rich with oil and dense with nutrients that towhees, nuthatches, cardinals and even robins adore into January.

— Karen Hugg, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of adore

Verb

The government characterized Lemon as part of the demonstration, arguing his actions at a church crossed the line from a reporting to a protesting role, violating the First Amendment right to worship and freedom of religion.

— Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 8 Oct. 2026
During the days leading up to Vijayadashami, the goddess Durga is worshipped in her various forms as Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati.

— Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of worship

Verb

The leader of the breakfast and lunch chain, which brings in over $1 billion in annual revenue, likes to break bread with staffers rather than hide away in a corner office.

— Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026
Overcast Milan was looking even grayer than I’d have liked, but I was heartened by a gracious welcome at the Park Hyatt, tucked away on a side street of the Piazza del Duomo.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of like

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idolizations

idolize

idolized

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“Idolize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idolize. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of idolize

verb

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