idolatrize
C2formal, literary
Definition
Meaning
to worship or venerate as an idol; to treat with excessive admiration or devotion
to idealize someone or something to an extreme degree, often ignoring flaws or reality; to give excessive adoration that resembles religious worship
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Carries strong religious connotations from its root 'idolatry' (worship of idols). Often used metaphorically in modern contexts to criticize excessive admiration of celebrities, leaders, or ideologies. Implies a level of devotion that is irrational or uncritical.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the word identically in meaning and form. The spelling 'idolatrize' is standard in both, though 'idolise' (UK) vs 'idolize' (US) is the more common related form.
Connotations
Equally formal and literary in both varieties. Slightly more likely to appear in religious or academic contexts in the US, while British usage may include more cultural/literary criticism contexts.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both varieties (less than 0.01 occurrences per million words). More common in written texts than spoken language. The noun 'idolatry' and verb 'idolize' are significantly more frequent.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] idolatrizes [Object][Subject] idolatrizes [Object] as [Complement][Subject] is idolatrized by [Agent]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to 'idolatrize', but related to 'idol worship' and 'put on a pedestal'”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in critiques of corporate culture: 'Employees shouldn't idolatrize the CEO.'
Academic
Most common in religious studies, sociology, cultural criticism: 'The study examines how societies idolatrize political figures.'
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation. Would sound formal or pretentious.
Technical
Primarily in theological or philosophical discourse about worship practices.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Some football fans idolatrize their team's striker as if he were a deity.
- The documentary warned against idolatrizing historical figures without acknowledging their flaws.
- In certain cultures, people idolatrize ancestors through elaborate rituals.
American English
- Certain media outlets encourage the public to idolatrize political candidates.
- It's dangerous when citizens idolatrize a leader to the point of ignoring corruption.
- The self-help guru's followers idolatrized him, hanging on his every word.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverb form.
American English
- No standard adverb form.
adjective
British English
- No standard adjective form. Use 'idolatrous' (related but different meaning).
American English
- No standard adjective form. Use 'idolatrous' (related but different meaning).
Examples
By CEFR Level
- (Too advanced for A2 – concept requires C1+ vocabulary)
- Some teenagers idolatrize famous singers.
- It is not good to idolatrize one person.
- The cult members idolatrized their leader without question.
- Historians caution against idolatrizing historical figures, as they were complex individuals.
- The populace began to idolatrize the revolutionary leader, attributing to him almost supernatural qualities.
- Modern consumer culture often encourages us to idolatrize wealth and celebrity status.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
IDOL + ATRIZE (like 'idol' + 'prize') – You prize your idol so much you worship it.
Conceptual Metaphor
ADMIRATION IS WORSHIP (mapping religious devotion onto secular admiration)
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'идеализировать' (idealize) – 'idolatrize' сильнее, с религиозным оттенком.
- Отличать от 'обожать' (adore) – 'idolatrize' implies worship, not just affection.
- Не переводить как 'поклоняться' в нейтральном смысле – только в крайнем, почти религиозном.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'idolatrise' (though this is an accepted variant).
- Confusing with 'idolize' (more common, less extreme).
- Using in informal contexts where it sounds unnatural.
- Incorrect stress: /ˈaɪ.dəl.ə.traɪz/ instead of /aɪˈdɒl.ə.traɪz/.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'idolatrize' CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Idolize' is more common and can mean to admire greatly or love deeply. 'Idolatrize' is rarer, more formal, and specifically implies worship-like devotion, often with religious connotations or extreme, uncritical admiration.
Yes, but it's a low-frequency, formal word. You'll encounter it more in academic writing, literary criticism, religious studies, or sophisticated journalism than in everyday conversation.
Typically not. It usually carries a negative or critical connotation, suggesting the admiration is excessive, irrational, or inappropriate. The speaker often implies disapproval.
The direct noun is 'idolatrization', but it's extremely rare. The much more common and related noun is 'idolatry', which means the worship of idols or excessive devotion.
Explore