hero

noun

ˈhir-(ˌ)ō How to pronounce hero (audio)
Definition of heronext
1
as in idol
a person who is the object of extreme or uncritical devotion fans of the sports hero didn't care what the facts were—in their minds, he was innocent of all criminal charges

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in submarine
a large sandwich on a long split roll shared a foot-long meatball hero with his friend

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example 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 But he’s also treated as a sort of countrywide hero as well thanks to his longtime residency of Lake Como with wife, Amal Clooney and their twins. — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026 An unlikely walk-off hero, a CGSO, all-around beast pitching, more lead changes than was probably comfortable … ugh, so good. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 1 Sep. 2026 But McCarthy wasn’t the one playing hero on Monday night at Coors Field. — Scott Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Alastair Stout will play Harry’s best friend Ronald Weasley, and Arabella Stanton will round out the classic trio of heroes as bookworm Hermione Granger, who matches the courage of the previous two Gryffindors. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hero
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hero
  1. idol
  2. submarine
  3. icon
  4. god
Noun
  • He was also asked about being one of Hollywood’s last movie stars, and Clooney swiftly brought up two of his idols and good friends, Gregory Peck and Paul Newman.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026
  • He was also dressed as his idol, a true-to-life cosplay that his father, Steve, said he's done for three consecutive Halloweens.
    — Brian Bull, NPR, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of idol
Noun
  • The submarine’s return also followed an intensive testing and certification process.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Washington is building a new intercontinental ballistic missile, strategic bomber, and ballistic missile submarine.
    — Jeffrey Lewis, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of submarine
Noun
  • Bullock shared her memories of the icon one day after Parton died following a brief battle with cancer at age 80, her representatives confirmed to PEOPLE.
    — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The country music icon's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was allegedly vandalized after her death; it was already set to be replaced because of existing cracks, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce told Los Angeles news station ABC 7.
    — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of icon
Noun
  • Some interpreters contend that the many gods are manifestations of the singular transcendent divine.
    — Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Named after the Roman god of the underworld, Pluto remained the solar system's ninth planet until the 2006 IAU vote.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of god

Phrases Containing hero

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hermits
hero
heroes
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Cite this Entry

“Hero.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hero. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hero

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hero

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