Lionizing: meaning, definitions and examples

praising highly

Lionizing refers to the act of treating a person as a celebrity or elevating their status to that of a lion, often through excessive praise or admiration. This word typically captures the tendency of society to idolize individuals, be they public figures, artists, or other personalities, often to an exaggerated extent. While admiration can be motivating, lionizing can sometimes lead to unrealistic expectations or blind followers. It’s commonly used in contexts where someone's achievements are celebrated in an overwhelmingly positive manner.

celebrating, exalting, extolling, glorifying, idolizing

Examples of usage

• The media has been lionizing the young athlete since her record-breaking performance.

• After his heroic actions, the community began lionizing the firefighter.

• They lionized the author after her latest novel topped the best-seller list.