canonize

/ˈkænənaɪz/ (bre, ipa) · [kˈænənˌaɪz] /ˈkænənaɪz/ (ame, ipa) · [kˈænənˌaɪz] /ˈka-nə-ˌnīz How to pronounce canonize (audio)/ (ame, mw)

canonize — verb

  • canonizepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • canonizeshe / she / it
  • canonizedpast simple
  • canonizing-ing form

1. to give sainthood to someone who has died by an official decision of the Catholi

1.動詞及物C2
釋義

to give sainthood to someone who has died by an official decision of the Catholic Church.

例句

After years of investigation, the Vatican canonized Oscar Romero in 2018.

pattern: canonize + deceased person as a saint

The Church did not canonize the nun until decades after her death.

同義詞
  • declare a saint

    states the result directly, without the single formal verb

  • saint

    literary and uncommon as a verb; much less standard than canonize

反義詞
  • condemn

    move in the opposite moral direction rather than honoring someone

  • denounce

    publicly speak against someone instead of honoring them

文法句型

canonize + deceased person

be canonized by + church authority

用法筆記

Used mainly in Roman Catholic contexts. The object is a dead person, and the verb refers to the Church's formal act of naming that person a saint.

常見錯誤

❌The Church canonized the prayer last year.
✅The Church canonized the bishop last year.' / 'The Church approved the prayer for use last year.
💡this sense is for making a dead person a saint, not for approving a text or prayer.
❌The Church canonized her while she was still alive.
✅The Church canonized her after her death.
💡a person is canonized only after death.

2. to talk about someone as if they were almost perfect, often more than they deser

2.動詞及物C2
釋義

to talk about someone as if they were almost perfect, often more than they deserve.

例句

Some fans canonized the actor after one moving speech at the awards show.

canonize + public figure after a praised act

The newspaper was accused of canonizing the mayor and ignoring his record.

passive criticism: be accused of canonizing someone

同義詞
  • idolize

    close everyday synonym for admiring someone too much

  • glorify

    often stresses public praise that makes faults disappear

  • revere

    can be more respectful and less critical than canonize

反義詞
  • criticize

    focus on faults rather than treating someone as perfect

  • condemn

    stronger opposite that openly judges someone as bad

文法句型

canonize + person

be accused of canonizing + person

用法筆記

Often carries criticism, suggesting praise has become excessive or uncritical. The object is usually a person, especially a leader, celebrity, or public figure.

常見錯誤

❌Critics canonized the novel after the prize.
✅Critics canonized the author after the prize.' / 'Critics hailed the novel as a classic after the prize.
💡this sense is about overpraising a person, not placing a work in the cultural canon.
❌The article canonized about the singer.
✅The article canonized the singer.
💡the person being praised comes directly after the verb.

3. to treat a book, film, idea, or similar work as one of the important classics pe

3.動詞及物C2
釋義

to treat a book, film, idea, or similar work as one of the important classics people should respect or study.

例句

University courses soon canonized the novel as a key text of modern African literature.

canonize + work as a key text

Critics canonized the director's first three films and ignored her later experiments.

同義詞
  • enshrine

    suggests giving lasting honored status in culture or memory

  • elevate

    broader and less tied to the idea of an accepted canon

  • recognize as a classic

    clear paraphrase for learner-friendly explanation

反義詞
  • dismiss

    refuse to treat a work or idea as important

  • marginalize

    push something to the edge instead of granting classic status

文法句型

canonize + work/idea

be canonized as + classic text

用法筆記

This sense is used for works, texts, or ideas gaining classic or authoritative status. Distinguish it from sense 2, which is about overpraising a person.

常見錯誤

❌Fans canonized the singer in music history.
✅Fans canonized the singer.' / 'Critics canonized the singer's first album in music history.
💡this sense places a work or idea in the canon, not a person.
❌The class canonized about the poem.
✅The class canonized the poem.
💡the work goes directly after the verb.

4. in Christian use, to give a text, rule, prayer, or practice formal approval thro

4.動詞及物C2
釋義

in Christian use, to give a text, rule, prayer, or practice formal approval through church authority.

例句

The council canonized the prayer for use in churches across the region.

church authority canonizes a prayer for worship use

Church leaders refused to canonize the booklet because its teaching was still disputed.

同義詞
  • authorize

    broad formal verb for giving official permission

  • sanction

    formal and often historical, stressing official approval

  • ratify

    focuses on confirming something formally after consideration

反義詞
  • reject

    refuse to grant official church approval

  • forbid

    ban a text or practice instead of approving it

文法句型

canonize + prayer/text/rule

be canonized by + church authority

用法筆記

Found mainly in theological or historical writing. The object is usually a text, rule, prayer, or practice, not a dead person; use sense 1 for naming a saint.

常見錯誤

❌The Church canonized the bishop after his death.
✅The Church canonized the bishop as a saint after his death.' / 'The Church canonized the prayer for church use.
💡a person becoming a saint belongs to sense 1, while this sense is for texts, prayers, or rules.
❌The critics canonized the hymn for worship.
✅The council canonized the hymn for worship.
💡this sense requires religious authority, not general public praise.