Definition
“Deify” means to worship, exalt, or regard someone or something as a god or divine being.
Pronunciation
US English
UK English
Part of Speech
Verb
Synonyms
Worship, venerate, idolize, revere
Antonyms
Despise, denounce, vilify
Word Forms
| Part of Speech | Words |
|---|---|
| Noun | deity, deification, deifications, deities |
| Verb | deified, deifies, deifying, deify |
| Adjective | None |
| Adverb | None |
Example Sentences
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The ancient Greeks believed that certain heroes and rulers were deified after their death and became immortal gods.
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Some people deify their favorite celebrities and musicians, treating them as though they are perfect and infallible.
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The company’s founder was almost deified by his employees, who saw him as a visionary and inspirational leader.
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Some people tend to deify celebrities and put them on a pedestal, despite their flaws and imperfections.
Usage
The word “deify” comes from the Latin word “deificare,” which means “to make divine.” As a verb, “deify” is used to describe the act of worshiping or exalting someone or something to a divine status. In religious contexts, “deify” may refer to the act of worshiping or recognizing a person or object as a god, such as in ancient polytheistic religions. However, the term can also be used in a more secular sense to describe the act of treating someone or something as though it is perfect or infallible.
The word “deify” can be used as a verb in various tenses, such as “deifies,” “deifying,” and “deified.” It can also be combined with other words to create new terms, such as “self-deify” to describe the act of regarding oneself as divine or godlike.
There are no commonly used prefixes or suffixes associated with the word “deify.” However, the term may be used in various expressions, such as “deify the ground someone walks on” to describe the act of regarding someone with extreme reverence and adoration.
While “deify” is typically used in a positive or reverential sense, it can also be used in a negative sense to describe the act of regarding someone or something as being too powerful or perfect. In this context, the term may be used ironically or sarcastically to suggest that the person or thing being deified is not worthy of such reverence.