idolatry
8 synonyms and 0 antonyms for idolatry, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The worship of a physical image or object as a god, treated in Judaism, Christianity and Islam as a serious religious offence.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
The worship of a physical image or object as a god, treated in Judaism, Christianity and Islam as a serious religious offence.
“The prophets repeatedly warned the people against idolatry.”
2. noun
Excessive or uncritical admiration for a person or thing, to the point where it resembles worship.
“Her idolatry of her older brother meant she never questioned his advice.”
How to Use Idolatry
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Formal and largely religious in its literal sense; the figurative sense appears in journalism and criticism.
Etymology
From Greek eidololatria, combining eidolon 'image, idol' and latreia 'worship', which passed into English through Latin and Old French.
Full origin of idolatry →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between idolatry and idolisation?
Idolatry is the religious act of worshipping an idol or false god, and carries a strong note of sin or transgression. Idolisation is the ordinary act of admiring someone far too much, with no religious meaning attached. A congregation can be accused of idolatry; a fan merely idolises a singer.
Is idolatry always about statues?
No. In religious writing it began with carved images, but it was quickly extended to anything given the devotion owed to God, including money, power or status. In everyday English the word is used almost entirely in this figurative way.
How do you pronounce idolatry?
It is said eye-DOL-uh-tree, with the stress on the second syllable. The first syllable rhymes with 'eye', not with 'id'.