he·ro-wor·ship
ˈhir-(ˌ)ō-ˌwər-ship 
hero-worshipped also hero-worshiped; hero-worshipping also hero-worshiping; hero-worships
: to feel or express hero worship for
hero-worshipper
noun
1
: veneration of a hero
2
: foolish or excessive adulation for an individual
Synonyms
Examples of hero-worship in a Sentence
Verb
people who hero-worship celebrities are setting themselves up for disappointment
a golfing pro who is hero-worshipped by hordes of weekend duffers
Noun
He objects to the unthinking hero worship of great athletes by their fans.
once the object of uncritical hero worship, the aging quarterback now faces the derision of his team's fickle fans
Recent Examples on the Web
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
Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2024
But rather than trying to find more meaning in the Joker’s madness, Folie à Deux brings the metaphorical house lights up to take a much more negatively critical look at its central anti-villain and the culture of hero worship.
—Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge, 4 Oct. 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
Springsteen admires the precision, energy, and intelligence of Bryan’s songwriting, but he’s also clearly charmed by the 28-year-old Navy veteran’s obvious hero worship, puppy-in-a-frat energy, and relentless sincerity.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2024
But rather than trying to find more meaning in the Joker’s madness, Folie à Deux brings the metaphorical house lights up to take a much more negatively critical look at its central anti-villain and the culture of hero worship.
—Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge, 4 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hero-worship
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hero-worship.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near hero-worship
Cite this Entry
“Hero-worship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hero-worship. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
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