Meaning & use
lionize
To treat someone as a celebrity or object of great public admiration and attention.
See it in a sentence
The press lionized the young scientist after her discovery made international headlines.
Fans lionized the retired athlete, greeting him like a hero wherever he went.
A note on using this word
Lionize often implies the admiration may be excessive or based on limited achievement, carrying a hint of irony.
Words with a similar meaning
celebrateglorify
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
ignorevilify
Make it your own
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