Lionize — A Word You May Not Have Realized Is Very Relevant
Corrected version here! Sorry the draft went out accidentally. So, LIONIZE is actually related to the king of the jungle, but read on to learn more!
We’ve got a fancy one today that you can use this week: LIONIZE.
LIONIZE perfectly captures how we treat celebrities, influencers, and heroes in modern culture. And yes, it comes from the word LION.
And a quick note: I’m experimenting with different formats of the Word of the Day, as I frequently do. I am thinking of shortening this WotD email so that I can spend more time on lessons and vocabulary lists. Please let me know what you think in the comments.
📚️ Definition of Lionize
Lionize (verb): to treat (someone) as a celebrity or give them attention and admiration, often to an excessive degree. Example: to lionize tech entrepreneurs.
🗣️ Pronunciation of Lionize
IPA: /ˈlaɪ.ə.naɪz/ (See IPA key)
Respelling: LY-uh-nyz
📰 Examples of Lionize
Here are some examples of the word lionize:
The small town lionized its only Olympic medalist by throwing a parade in her honor when she returned home.
It can be hard to resist the urge to lionize even semi-famous people.
The tendency to lionize those who have achieved a certain type of success can blinds us to their very human flaws and struggles.
And if you have a second, please provide your feedback:
Thank you!