LIONIZED Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

lionized

verb

past tense of lionize

as in admired

to treat (someone) as a very important and famous person She was lionized everywhere after her novel won the Pulitzer Prize.

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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 lionized Soaring energy prices and inflation have added to the burden as the tourism sector struggles to draw visitors to landscapes lionized in Hollywood by Peter O’Toole, Harrison Ford and Matt Damon. — ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026 Fauci, 85, truly one of humanity’s great public health heroes, will be lionized in history long after mediocrities like Paul, Uthmeier and Scott have been relegated to footnotes. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026 Greenspan was the rare celebrity among central bankers, lionized for his economic stewardship in the 1990s — and a reputation tarnished by the global financial crisis of 2008. — June 22, NPR, 22 June 2026 Jay Cooke, who had once been lionized for his role in financing the Union victory, was attacked in the press and accused of cheating ordinary Americans out of their savings. — John Cassidy, New Yorker, 15 June 2026 Nursing has long been lionized as one of the most stable and safe professions for young graduates to pursue. — Tristan Bove, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026 His work here should be respected, not lionized. — Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026 Some people have lionized Mangione as a sort of vigilante hero. — CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026 To see that kind of big-budget artistry properly lionized, given some of the duds the Academy has recognized in recent years—I’m looking at you, Green Book—felt like a true triumph. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lionized

Verb

Porto’s Victor Froholdt was also greatly admired, but a deal was not feasible.

— Chris Waugh, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
In her caption, Ashley continued to share how much her late mother admired Parton.

— Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of admired

Verb

The memorandum of understanding that was reached in June called for a ceasefire that has been honored in the breach.

— Dana Taylor, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
For King, The American Legion volunteers’ clean-up efforts honored the veterans buried at the cemetery and showed him those individuals have not been forgotten.

— Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of honored

Verb

Deploy cunning and operate in darkness, like those shapeshifting, half-human, half-wolf creatures revered in German folklore.

— Danielle Parker, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
In a sport like golf, where grinders like Clark are revered, that sort of head-down, do-the-work attitude may be what ends up appealing to fans.

— Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of revered

Verb

Conor Fitzpatrick, an attorney with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which brought the lawsuit, praised the ruling.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
The girls’ mother, Stephanie Soares, praised Legaspi and Feir for helping to motivate her daughters, as Naya has adjusted to using her prosthetic foot and Milayna has spent time outside of her wheelchair for the first time in her life.

— Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of praised

Verb

Other venerated South Side joints included Pepper’s Lounge, the Dew Drop Inn, and Theresa’s Lounge, the latter of which was tucked away in the basement of an apartment building.

— René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026
Not asked enough by those who venerated Graham is why in death the patriot’s name must be associated with what’s so inimical to American prosperity and freedom.

— John Tamny, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of venerated

Verb

With only Lucien, a freshly out twink with more heart than abs, still by his side, Jim must race to find a cure before the disease erases the community that once worshipped him.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026
Once worshipped by millions, Khan led the country from 2018 until his ouster in a parliamentary no-confidence vote in 2022.

— Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of worshipped

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“Lionized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lionized. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of lionized

verb

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