Definition

1. Verb:
   • To exalt to the position of a god: To treat or worship someone or something as if they were a deity.
   • To consider as a god or godlike: To regard with extreme or excessive admiration, reverence, or devotion, as if they were divine.

Usage and Examples

• Verb:
  • Ancient civilizations would often deify their rulers after their deaths.
  • Some fans deify their favorite celebrities, following their every move.
  • The philosopher warned against the tendency to deify wealth and material success.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• Cultural/Historical Context: Often used to describe the historical or religious practice of declaring a human to be a god.
  • The Roman Senate occasionally voted to deify an emperor.
• Figurative/Critical Use: Commonly used in a figurative or critical sense to describe treating a non-divine concept (like money, fame, or a person) with unwarranted, absolute reverence.
  • The biography seeks to humanize the leader rather than deify him.

Variants and Related Words

• Deification (n): The act of deifying; the state of being deified.
  • The deification of the founder was central to the cult's beliefs.
• Deified (adj): Treated or worshipped as a god.
  • The deified king was depicted with a halo.

Synonyms

• Exalt: To raise in rank, character, or status; to praise highly.
• Idolize: To admire, revere, or love greatly or excessively.
• Worship: To show reverence and adoration for (a deity); to feel great admiration or devotion for.

Antonyms

• Demonize: To portray as wicked and threatening.
• Vilify: To speak or write about in an abusively disparaging manner.
• Despise: To feel contempt or a deep repugnance for.

Related Phrases and Concepts

• To treat as divine: To regard with the utmost respect and reverence, as if sacred.
  • He did not seek to be treated as divine, but his followers began to deify him.
• Cult of personality: A situation where a leader is deified through propaganda and media control.
  • The regime was marked by a pervasive cult of personality that sought to deify the dictator.

Verb

1. exalt to the position of a God
   • the people deified their King
2. consider as a god or godlike
   • These young men deify financial success