as in adoring
reflecting great admiration or devotion gave his fiancée an idolizing glance
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in worshipping
to love or admire too much she blindly idolized her older sister, refusing to acknowledge any of her faults
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 idolizing
Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 1 Apr. 2026 McGonigle grew up idolizing Phillies legend Chase Utley, who is going into the club's Wall of Fame in August. —Tom Dougherty, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026 As with so many of his generation, Adebayo, 28, grew up idolizing the late Bryant. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026 For those of us who grew up idolizing the 38-year singer and actor, that candor is classic Hilary. —Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 17 Feb. 2026 Regenda grew up idolizing other Slovakian stars like Marian Hossa, Marian Gaborik, Pavol Demitra, and Zdeno Chara. —Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026 But in October 2024, Vladimir Kramnik, a former Russian World Chess Champion who Naroditsky grew up idolizing, began publicly insinuating that Naroditsky might be using computer assistance during online games. —Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 18 Dec. 2025 Bergman grew up idolizing the famed attorney. —Charlotte Alter, Time, 19 Nov. 2025 Smith grew up idolizing him as a boy in Louisville. —Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
Verb
Having access to the network of former UConn superstars is still surreal for Vukosa, who grew up idolizing Breanna Stewart and attends the same high school as Hall of Famer Sue Bird and WNBA MVP Tina Charles. —Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 1 Apr. 2026 McGonigle grew up idolizing Phillies legend Chase Utley, who is going into the club's Wall of Fame in August. —Tom Dougherty, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026 As with so many of his generation, Adebayo, 28, grew up idolizing the late Bryant. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026 For those of us who grew up idolizing the 38-year singer and actor, that candor is classic Hilary. —Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 17 Feb. 2026 Regenda grew up idolizing other Slovakian stars like Marian Hossa, Marian Gaborik, Pavol Demitra, and Zdeno Chara. —Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026 But in October 2024, Vladimir Kramnik, a former Russian World Chess Champion who Naroditsky grew up idolizing, began publicly insinuating that Naroditsky might be using computer assistance during online games. —Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 18 Dec. 2025 Bergman grew up idolizing the famed attorney. —Charlotte Alter, Time, 19 Nov. 2025 Smith grew up idolizing him as a boy in Louisville. —Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idolizing
Adjective
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Andrew Buss takes an adoring but critical eye to Superbad.— Brian Boone, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2025
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The Patriots’ pass coverage without Christian Gonzalez, their atrocious inside linebacker play and roller-coaster special teams, which give any adoring fan a heart attack at a moment’s notice.— Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Cage fans already knew the actor could play twisted roles well, but his demented performance as the Satan-worshipping killer still disturbed and delighted audiences.— Angelique Jackson, Variety, 14 Apr. 2026
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One raunchy session from 1975 with a lover named Mike Karton begins with Peter worshipping Karton’s jockstrap in his Second Avenue loft.— Andrew Durbin, Vulture, 13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Idolizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/idolizing. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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