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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The seven-time world champion made the comments in front of his adoring fans at F1’s official launch show in London’s O2 Arena on Tuesday.—
Ben Church,
CNN,
19 Feb. 2025
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The British voters adore the German director Berger; their love for his last film All Quiet on the Western Front, which won seven BAFTAs, was not replicated at that year’s Oscars ceremony.—
Sarah Crompton,
Vogue,
17 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
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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The places of worship allegedly vandalized are University Christian Church in Hillcrest, St. Paul’s Cathedral in Bankers Hill and Ohr Shalom Synagogue, also in Bankers Hill.—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Feb. 2025
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Hammond Faith United Church of Christ: 3030 175th St. — Faith United Church of Christ will have a Northwest Indiana International Women’s Day celebration with worship, prize giveaways, appetizers and more.—
Post-Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
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People like to see competition and camaraderie but some kind of flare to each personality.—
Gabby Herzig,
The Athletic,
17 Feb. 2025
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This is creating just the sort of uncertainty that business leaders do not like.—
Roger Trapp,
Forbes,
17 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Amidst growing tension, Childress praised the teams' decision to challenge the agreement, highlighting the need for fairness within the sport.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
8 Feb. 2025
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In between awards at the Friday, Feb. 7 ceremony in Los Angeles, host Handler, 49, stood next to Fiennes' table and began praising Nicole Kidman's 2024 erotic thriller Babygirl.—
Tommy McArdle,
People.com,
8 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Ackermann, like Ford, is one of fashion’s dramatists, deftly wielding strong shoulders, sinuous draping, and an audacious use of rich color in both his women’s and men’s work, an approach that garnered him the adoration of the likes of Tilda Swinton, Timothée Chalamet—and, clearly, Mr. Ford.—
Mark Holgate,
Vogue,
6 Feb. 2025
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This is the rare instance when the love of a player was on the same level, if not greater, than the adoration for the team.—
Mac Engel,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The avid sports fans grew up idolizing the 1980 Eagle Super Bowl champs (running back Wilbert Montgomery and wide receiver Harold Carmichael).—
Bryan Alexander,
USA TODAY,
18 Feb. 2025
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Michael grew up in Cleveland, in a religious household where the artists his future wife idolized, like Salt-N-Pepa, were strictly prohibited.—
Marissa R. Moss,
New York Times,
13 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Imagine receiving a message from your supervisor congratulating you on your recent promotion.—
Andrew Brodsky,
TIME,
11 Feb. 2025
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While the stadium hardly reacted to Hopkins' touchdown, the Eagles players and staff on the sidelines (and the fans in the stands) were already congratulating each other with high fives and hugs.—
Alex Ross,
People.com,
11 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near hero-worship
Cite this Entry
“Hero-worship.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hero-worship. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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