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
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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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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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She is survived by her adoring husband, Doug; her children, Laura Whitney Backstrom and Greg Backstrom (Brian Farley); siblings, Rick (Mary Jo) Ungerman, Sandy (John) Corbett, Craig (Camille Benjamin) Ungerman, Mary Pat (Greg) Shepherd; and many nieces and nephews.—
Contributed Content,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
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Doctor Unicorn Soft Unicorn Hooded Bathrobe Unicorn fans will adore this cozy bathrobe that’s available in four color combinations.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2025
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
-
He’s overpraised of course.—
Nick Laird,
The New York Review of Books,
16 Mar. 2023
Noun
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The president has expanded ICE's authority, allowing immigration raids in schools, hospitals, and places of worship.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
31 Jan. 2025
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The historic fires claimed 29 lives and destroyed more than 16,000 structures, including homes, schools, places of worship, and businesses.—
Sam Reed,
Glamour,
31 Jan. 2025
Verb
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That’s ultimately the part of acting that Kelce likes the most.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN,
5 Feb. 2025
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Ally and Jay’s rom-com caricature is the cleverest subplot in the movie — the pair are heightened Hallmark Channel ingenues who like fiddly coffee orders, coordinated plaids and the same shade of taupe.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2025
Verb
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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
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Zach Seidl, a spokesperson for Bass, praised Soboroff’s lengthy record in the city, working to develop Playa Vista, bringing Staples Center — now Crypto.com Arena — to downtown and serving on the Board of Police Commissioners.—
Julia Wick,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2025
Noun
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While it’s spoken of only briefly, his adoration for vintage McGwyer Mortimer is clearly a way of keeping alive the memory of his late wife, who was an even bigger fan.—
David Rooney,
The Hollywood Reporter,
1 Feb. 2025
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The directors in both cases grapple with their obvious adoration for the entertainment that shaped them, juxtaposed with the acknowledgment that living through screens can only ever be a simulacrum and not a replacement for a fulfilling existence.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
31 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Junior is the pride of Colombia’s Atlantic coast, and Rodriguez is Colombia’s star man, idolized and protected by the national team’s loyal supporters in Barranquilla.—
Felipe Cardenas,
The Athletic,
15 Jan. 2025
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By then, as a kid growing up in Le Mans, Rupert had come to idolize Batum.—
Jason Quick,
The Athletic,
16 Jan. 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 16 Feb. 2025.
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