Idolatry
The worship of idols; extreme or blind devotion to a person, thing, or idea considered sacred.
nounIdolatry
The worship of idols; extreme or blind devotion to a person, thing, or idea considered sacred.
nounImagine This
The tree that saved the king during a flood has become widely worshipped as a god of peace.
Sounds Like
eye-DOHL-uh-tree
Looks Like
idol
Remember This
Idolatry involves treating an object or person as sacred beyond reasonable reverence, often replacing appropriate beliefs or values with obsessed devotion.
Other Forms
Connect With
worship, veneration, reverence, adoration, fanaticism
Note
Idolatry is a noun; the related verb is idolize, the adjective is idolatrous, and the person who practices it is an idolater. Distinguish it from ordinary admiration or enthusiastic interest, which is not inherently idolatrous.
Study Deeper
- Ancient cultures often displayed idolatry through statues and shrines.
- Some critics argue that excessive celebrity worship reflects modern idolatry.
From Latin idolatria, via Old French idolatrie, from Greek eidolatria, from eidolon “idol” + latreia “worship.”
Idol tree: idolatry sounds like 'idol-tree'—picture worshiping a tree as an idol to remember the meaning.
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Vicarious
adjectiveExperiencing or feeling something through another person’s actions or experiences rather than directly oneself; existing by means of someone else’s experiences or perspective.
Largess
nounGenerous giving; the act of giving liberally, especially of money.
Counterproductive
adjectiveHaving the opposite of the desired effect; actions or policies that hinder rather than help progress.
Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Abasement
nounThe act or instance of humiliating or degrading someone; the state of being lowered in dignity or status.
Absurdity
nounThe quality or state of being wildly unreasonable, illogical, or ridiculous; something that is completely contrary to reason or common sense.
Accent
nounA distinctive way of pronouncing words; the act of emphasizing a syllable or word (as a verb, to accent means to emphasize).
Accolade
nounAn honor; a public expression of praise or an award.
Acrimony
nounBitterness of speech or manner; ill feeling
Acronym
nounA word formed from the initial letters of a phrase, pronounced as a single word and used as a shorthand for the full name (for example, NASA or radar).