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
Since his arrest in Pennsylvania earlier this week, Luigi Mangione has been the subject of memes, which have lionized his physique and appearance.
—
Peter Suciu, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
In the years after the attack, Trump lionized the Jan. 6 attackers and praised Babbitt as a martyr to his MAGA cause.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 19 May 2025
The idea that famous women tend to be either lionized or vilified certainly hasn’t grown less accurate over the past century.
—Dorothy Fortenberry, The Atlantic, 12 May 2025
The only exception of course is the intersex pope (who – surprise! – has female reproductive parts) & the cardinal who keeps her secret – bc of course that kind of Catholic secret-keeping must be lionized.
—Katcy Stephan, Variety, 6 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lionize
Peter Suciu, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
In the years after the attack, Trump lionized the Jan. 6 attackers and praised Babbitt as a martyr to his MAGA cause.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 19 May 2025
The idea that famous women tend to be either lionized or vilified certainly hasn’t grown less accurate over the past century.
—Dorothy Fortenberry, The Atlantic, 12 May 2025
The only exception of course is the intersex pope (who – surprise! – has female reproductive parts) & the cardinal who keeps her secret – bc of course that kind of Catholic secret-keeping must be lionized.
—Katcy Stephan, Variety, 6 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lionize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lionize
Verb
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The video, taken by his granddaughter, showcased his unique way of honoring his late wife's passion—turtles.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 July 2025
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For her, honoring that invisible thread of girlhood was at the heart of it all.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
15 July 2025
Verb
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When sunset hit, the couple appeared to take a break out of their day to admire the view, which closed out the video.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
People.com,
24 July 2025
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Rotating exhibits mean there’s always something new to admire.—
Erin Gifford,
Southern Living,
24 July 2025
Verb
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Ethiopia’s lions are rather revered in Ethiopia, and are the country’s national symbol, adorning statues and the local currency.—
Mark Gray,
People.com,
18 July 2025
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The procession was led by a man carrying a cross on a tall pole, followed by a couple of Catholics holding a banner of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a popular image of the mother of Christ whom many Mexican Catholics revere.—
Niraj Warikoo,
Freep.com,
15 July 2025
Verb
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Fans drive what art gets created, what products get made, who gets canceled, and who gets venerated.—
Ellen Cushing,
The Atlantic,
10 July 2025
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To read about the polymath was to marvel at how much he was venerated by the best and seemingly brightest.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
Verb
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Beyond just winning races, Aston Martin F1’s marketing strategy is towards continuously exalting the brand’s image to an impassioned community.—
Lilian Raji,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2025
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The images made the rounds on social media, as Leeds fans exalted Nance’s sense of style.—
Felipe Cardenas,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
Verb
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Your defiance is something that has made a lot of people really love and respect you.—
Brittany Spanos,
Rolling Stone,
22 July 2025
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Given that an autonomous AI agent is not likely to respect national boundaries, adequate preparations would involve setting up channels with partners and adversaries alike to coordinate an effective international response.—
MATAN CHOREV,
Foreign Affairs,
22 July 2025
Verb
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Wiegman generally hates talking about individual players, but goes out of her way to praise Bronze’s competitive spirit.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
26 July 2025
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Joel’s political statement was praised by his ex-wife, model Christie Brinkley, in an Instagram post at the time.—
Emlyn Travis Published,
EW.com,
25 July 2025
Verb
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The vision of the Founding Fathers created a nation where individuals of all faiths can live with dignity and worship freely.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
4 July 2025
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Baseball fans, especially those who worship the New York Yankees, may want to contemplate a move to Florida.—
Madeleine Marr
July 3,
Miami Herald,
3 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lionize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lionize. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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