Definition

1. Noun:
   • A female idolater: A woman who worships idols or engages in idolatry. This is the core and most specific meaning. It directly refers to a woman who practices a form of worship centered on physical idols or images as deities.
   • A woman with excessive admiration or devotion: By extension, it can describe a woman who shows extreme, often uncritical, admiration or devotion for a person, object, or concept, treating it with the reverence typically reserved for a god.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The ancient text described the queen as a notorious idolatress who led her people away from the worship of the one true god.
  • In her fanatical devotion to the pop star, she behaved like a true idolatress, spending all her money on merchandise and following his every move.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in a historical or religious context to describe women in polytheistic or non-Abrahamic faiths from the perspective of monotheistic criticism.
• In modern figurative use, it carries a strong connotation of criticism, implying that the admiration is misplaced, irrational, or excessive.

Variants and Related Words

• Idolater (noun): The general, gender-neutral term for a person who worships idols. An is specifically a female idolater.
• Idolatry (noun): The worship of idols; excessive or blind adoration.
• Idolatrous (adjective): Characterized by or involving idolatry.

Synonyms

• Iconolater (formal): A worshipper of images or icons.
• Devotee (less pejorative): A person who is very interested in and enthusiastic about someone or something.
• Zealot (implies fanaticism): A person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• To make an idol of someone/something: To admire or love someone or something so much that you treat them as an idol.
  • She made an idol of her favorite author, believing he could do no wrong.

Noun

1. a woman idolater