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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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 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
Sophie Pinkham, The New York Review of Books, 14 Mar. 2024
No one on the team knows about Sir and everyone on that team has a little hero worship where Gabi is concerned.
—Alamin Yohannes, EW.com, 4 Oct. 2023
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
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
No one on the team knows about Sir and everyone on that team has a little hero worship where Gabi is concerned.
—Alamin Yohannes, EW.com, 4 Oct. 2023
See all Example Sentences for hero-worship
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hero-worship
Verb
-
My heart is breaking for his family & his extended family who loved and adored him..Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
-
Nola's owners adore their dogs, including their quirks, and hope that after learning about Nola, others will be inspired to adopt a rescue dog.Kelli Bender, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024
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
-
He’s overpraised of course.Nick Laird, The New York Review of Books, 16 Mar. 2023
Noun
-
This could be a place of worship, a local botanical garden, a quiet hiking trail—or even a cozy spot at home with candles and comfortable seating.Mark Travers, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
-
With time, voters have become more skeptical of what famous people say about politics and celebrity worship has given way to critiques.Brea Baker, refinery29.com, 24 Oct. 2024
Verb
-
Georgia got regular work on I Love Lucy because Lucille Ball liked her.Justin Curto, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024
-
Both liked casita buildings 37 and 38, situated higher on the grounds and deeper within the canyon than the rest.Tasha Zemke, Outside Online, 15 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
In our review of the AirPods 4, our expert Tim Gideon praised the impressive bass response these earbuds deliver, as well as the hands-free Siri access and the possibility to use gestures to interact with the assistant.Gabriela Vatu, PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
-
Read Article > Elon Musk spent Election Day on X praising men, amplifying anti-immigrant conspiracies, and accusing Democrats of voter fraud.Vox Staff, Vox, 6 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
The prevailing response to the Australian act’s third album has thus far been a general adoration for and excitement about the way its dozen tracks capture the bright sound and breezy spirit of the ’90s rave world.Katie Bain, Billboard, 18 Oct. 2024
-
If the first film expressed a fervent but surface-level appreciation for the outcast-character dramas of Martin Scorsese, this second one betrays not even a superficial adoration of the Hollywood musicals of old.A.A. Dowd, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2024
Verb
-
Owing to her father’s belief that women’s menstruation breaks the all-important power of ancestors, Yuet has never felt truly and unconditionally loved by Man, despite idolizing him and studying his ritual performances.Richard Kuipers, Variety, 29 Oct. 2024
-
Michael Schwartz, Tyler Nilson (USA), 2024 In 1990s Cuba, 18-year-old Gustavo (Eros de la Puente) idolizes his rebellious older brother Paco (Héctor Medina) and his punk bandmates.Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 12 Sep. 2024
Verb
-
Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister, meanwhile, congratulated the U.S. president-elect.Reuters, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
-
The episode ends with Melissa returning to school the next day with crutches and a cast, and Lisa congratulates Gregory on diffusing Darnell’s act of aggression.Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2024
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 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share