1
as in to adore
to love or admire too much
people who hero-worship celebrities are setting themselves up for disappointment
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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
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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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Examples 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
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
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Dwight basking in the adulation of his band of misfits, all of whom adore him for being so adorable.Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 17 Nov. 2024
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When they’re simmered together in a creamy, homemade broth, the combination makes a soup that people of all ages will adore.Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 7 Nov. 2024
Verb
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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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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
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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
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Georgia got regular work on I Love Lucy because Lucille Ball liked her.Justin Curto, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024
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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
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Kentucky residents react to streaming issues on Netflix during Tyson-Paul fight Kentucky residents sounded off on social media about the fight, some complaining of the glitchy experience while others praised Tyson for lasting eight rounds before ultimately losing to Paul.John Tufts, The Courier-Journal, 21 Nov. 2024
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Pet owners and non-pet owners alike praised the design, which has over 6,000 perfect reviews.Megan Schaltegger, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
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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
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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
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The first step for organizations is thus making employees aware of the risk of sleep deprivation instead of idolizing those who get by with little sleep.Lieke ten Brummelhuis, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
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But to me, this trend seems to go beyond idolizing celebrity style.Sam Reed, Glamour, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister, meanwhile, congratulated the U.S. president-elect.Reuters, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
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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 26 Nov. 2024.
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