idolater
/ai'dɔlətə/
Definition
Noun: 1. A person who worships idols: An idolater is someone who practices idolatry, which is the worship of physical idols or images as deities. 2. A person who admires or loves someone or something to an extreme degree: More broadly, an idolater can refer to a person who shows excessive admiration, devotion, or reverence for a person, object, or idea.
Usage
- The word "idolater" is used to describe a person whose actions or beliefs are characterized by idolatry.
- It can be used in both religious contexts (literal worship of idols) and secular contexts (extreme admiration for a person or thing).
- It is a formal term.
Examples
- Religious context:
- The ancient temple was filled with idolaters praying to statues of their gods.
- The prophet spoke out against the idolaters in the city.
- Secular context (extreme admiration):
- As a devoted idolater of classical music, he attended every concert in the city.
- She was an idolater of the author's work, collecting every first edition.
Advanced Usage
- "To be an idolater of...": This is a common construction to specify the object of excessive admiration.
- He was a known idolater of modern art.
- The term often carries a critical or disapproving connotation, implying that the admiration is unreasonable or misplaced.
Variants and Related Words
- Idolatry (n): The worship of idols; excessive or blind adoration.
- The practice of idolatry was forbidden.
- Idolatrous (adj): Characterized by or involving idolatry.
- They condemned the idolatrous practices.
- Idolize (v): To admire, revere, or love greatly or excessively.
- Teenagers often idolize famous singers.
Synonyms
- Devotee: A person who is very interested in and enthusiastic about someone or something.
- Zealot: A person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals.
- Adorer: A person who loves or admires someone deeply.
- Worshipper: A person who shows reverence and adoration for a deity or sacred object.
Antonyms
- Iconoclast: A person who attacks or criticizes cherished beliefs or institutions.
- Atheist: A person who disbelieves or lacks belief in the existence of God or gods.
- Critic: A person who expresses an unfavorable opinion of something.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Worship the ground someone walks on: To admire or love someone so much that you think they are perfect.
- He idolizes his teacher; he practically worships the ground she walks on.
- Put someone on a pedestal: To admire someone so much that you treat or regard them as perfect.
- It's not healthy to put your partner on a pedestal; they are only human.
Noun
-
a person who worships idols
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