adoration

noun

ad·​o·​ra·​tion ˌa-də-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce adoration (audio)
Synonyms of adoration
: the act of adoring : the state of being adored

Examples of adoration in a Sentence

They looked at the baby in adoration. The doctor has earned the adoration of his patients.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
And yet, when Szumowska and Englert portray Fyodor’s reaction to the couple’s pregnancy, the birth of their child, and a subsequent tragedy, Anna’s adoration for this utterly flawed man almost feels justified. — Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026 So, too, do the antics of his estate manager (a buoyant Sam Adegoke), always concocting money-making schemes, and the wide-eyed adoration of the girl next door (Amelia Mason, deftly balancing naïveté with seductiveness), who wants to save him. — Rhoda Feng, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026 Uditi is not alone in his adoration of these small, oval, pale yellow legumes. — Margy Rochlin, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026 The subject of his adoration was not a person, but Somaliland itself. — Mahbub Abdillahi, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for adoration

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin adōrātiōn-, adōrātiō, from adōrāre "to venerate, adore" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of adoration was in the 15th century

Rhymes for adoration

See All Rhymes for adoration

Browse Nearby Words

adorant
adoration
adorational
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Cite this Entry

“Adoration.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adoration. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on adoration

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for adoration

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about adoration

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