SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
canonize
verb
To officially recognize as a saint; figuratively, to treat as beyond criticism.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
CHOOSE WITH CARE
A useful distinction
The first meaning is religious. Figuratively the word can describe treating someone as beyond criticism; a saint is not the literal meaning of that metaphor.
To officially recognize as a saint; figuratively, to treat as beyond criticism
No close substitute is listed for this sense. The expressions below help explain the idea.
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topThe first meaning is religious. Figuratively the word can describe treating someone as beyond criticism; a saint is not the literal meaning of that metaphor.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See canonize in use
The church would canonize the revered figure after its formal process.
The church decided to canonize the teacher after years of inquiry.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license