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heroization

heroization

8.7
Making someone seem like a brave, admired person in stories or public life
  • noun
  • /ˌhɪəroʊɪˈzeɪʃən/
  • Jargon
translation icon : heroización
  • In literature, the heroization of historical figures often emphasizes their virtues and sacrifices for society.

Examples

  • The artist's work focuses on the heroization of everyday people who perform acts of kindness in their communities.

  • Dix's return to the western front as a volunteer aerial trainee at a time when home-front heroization of the "air aces" had cast them as the most glamorous combatants suggests that for Dix, as for German society at large, battle experience had become a central value in defining social status and identity.

    Academic text (1997)
  • The film's heroization of the main character highlighted his bravery and selflessness during the crisis.

Synonyms

glorification
vsheroization
3 6.8

Making something seem better than it really is

focuses on honoring notable deeds or bravery rather than broad idealizing
deification
vsheroization
2 9.5

Treating a person or thing as if they were a god

honors the person as a human exemplar rather than worshipping them as divine
mythmaking
vsheroization
1 7.0

Creating and sharing stories people accept as true to shape what they think

focuses on treating a person as an admired figure rather than shaping broad stories
valorization
vsheroization
  • Formal
1 9.1

To praise someone or something and make people see them as more important

treats the person as an admired public example rather than offering simple praise
mythification
vsheroization
9.1

To make a person or place seem like a legend

treats the person as an admired real figure rather than a legendary symbol
mythologization
vsheroization
  • Formal
9.8

To make a story, person, or event seem like a legend

treats the person as an admired real figure rather than an exaggerated legend

Antonyms

Talking about someone in a way that shows dislike and makes them seem unimportant

How Celebrated

deification
2 9.5
heroization
  • Jargon
8.7
to praise
331 1.0
acknowledgment
  • US
11 3.7

Surface Forms

heroization singular
heroizations plural

Morphology

heroization = heroize (transparent) = hero + ize + ation

The noun is a regular nominalization of the verb 'heroize' via the productive suffix '-ation', so the immediate step is straightforward.

Etymology

Heroization comes from hero, a brave or admired person, plus the parts -ize 'to make' and -ation 'the act of'. So heroization is like putting someone on a pedestal; it means making someone into a hero or treating them as a hero.