heroize

A child heroizes the brave firefighter in a drawing.

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To make a hero of; to treat as a hero: "heroize" means to regard or represent someone as a heroic figure, often by idealizing their actions or character.
   • To act like a hero: In an intransitive sense, "heroize" can mean to behave in a manner intended to appear heroic.

Usage Examples

• Transitive:

  • The biographer tended to heroize the general, ignoring his flaws. (The writer treated the general as a hero, overlooking his faults.)
  • Society often heroizes athletes who win championships. (People regard these athletes as heroic figures.)

• Intransitive:

  • He likes to heroize by telling exaggerated stories of his adventures. (He acts in a way meant to seem heroic.)

Advanced Usage

• "to heroize someone": to elevate a person to the status of a hero, often through narrative or public acclaim.

  • The media heroized the firefighter who saved the child. (The media portrayed the firefighter as a hero.)

• "self-heroizing": the act of presenting oneself as a hero.

  • His autobiography is full of self-heroizing, making him the central heroic figure. (He portrays himself as a hero throughout.)

Variants and Related Words

• Heroization (n): the process or act of making someone a hero.

  • The heroization of soldiers is common in wartime propaganda. (The act of treating soldiers as heroes.)

• Heroized (adj): regarded or treated as a hero.

  • The heroized leader was celebrated in statues and songs. (The leader was made into a heroic figure.)

• Hero (n): a person admired for courage, noble qualities, or achievements.

  • She is a hero to many for her bravery. (A person looked up to as a hero.)

Synonyms

• Idolize: to admire or revere someone excessively.

  • Fans idolize pop stars, often heroizing them. (They treat them as heroes.)

• Glorify: to praise or honor highly, often exaggerating.

  • The film glorifies the outlaw, heroizing his criminal acts. (It presents him as a hero.)

• Deify: to treat someone as a god, similar to extreme heroization.

  • Ancient cultures deified their rulers, heroizing them beyond human status. (They made them into gods.)

Related Idioms

• Make a hero out of someone: to heroize a person.

  • The town made a hero out of the returning soldier. (They heroized him.)

• Put on a pedestal: to idealize or heroize someone.

  • She puts her father on a pedestal, heroizing his every action. (She treats him as a perfect hero.)