adoration
More than fondness
Adoration is intense love, devotion, or worship.
The word suggests reverence beyond ordinary affection—the adoration of a deity, a parent's adoration of their child, or a fan's adoration of a celebrity.
She looked at him with adoration.
In religious contexts, adoration specifically means worship of the divine.
Reverent fear and wonder
- respectRegard with honor
- esteemFavorable opinion of worth
- honorHigh regard, moral dignity
- admirationDeep respect felt
homage · deference · regard · piety · sanctity · glory · majesty · sublimity
Intense fond attachment
- affectionWarm emotional attachment
- fondnessWarm liking or affection
- attachmentConnection or fondness
- dedicationWholehearted loyalty to purpose
loyalty · commitment · faithfulness · steadfastness · constancy · fidelity · allegiance · tenderness
Address to deity
- praiseExpression of approval
- liturgyFormal worship structure
- venerationProfound admiring respect
- genuflectionKnee-bending act of reverence
prostration · hymn · chanting · altar · sanctuary · temple · shrine · chapel
Short-lived intense attraction
- ardorIntense emotional warmth
- fervorIntense emotional intensity
- yearningIntense prolonged craving
- longingIntense, persistent desire
desire · crush · amour · romance · enchantment · captivation · smitten · enamored
Veneration of false gods
- fanaticismObsessive, unreasoning dedication
- obsessionPersistent, intrusive preoccupation
- hero-worshipUncritical excessive admiration
- deificationElevation to divine status
cult · zealotry · fetishism · idealization · fixation · mania · overvaluation · glorification
awe
Reverent fear and wonder
admiration · homage · deference · regard · piety · sanctity · glory · majesty · sublimity · sacredness
love
Intense fond attachment
- affectionWarm emotional attachment
- fondnessWarm liking or affection
- attachmentConnection or fondness
dedication · loyalty · commitment · faithfulness · steadfastness · constancy · fidelity · allegiance · tenderness · closeness
prayer
Address to deity
- praiseExpression of approval
- liturgyFormal worship structure
- venerationProfound admiring respect
genuflection · prostration · hymn · chanting · altar · sanctuary · temple · shrine · chapel · mass
infatuation
Short-lived intense attraction
longing · desire · crush · amour · romance · enchantment · captivation · smitten · enamored · besotted
idolatry
Veneration of false gods
- fanaticismObsessive, unreasoning dedication
- obsessionPersistent, intrusive preoccupation
- hero-worshipUncritical excessive admiration
deification · cult · zealotry · fetishism · idealization · fixation · mania · overvaluation · glorification · mythologizing
- romancelove story, amor, love, boyfriend, courting
- courtshipcourting, courtship, suitor, betrothal, wooing
- fondnessaffection, liking, fondness, tenderness, caring
- Catholic devotionsnovena, Stations of the Cross, Sacred Heart, litany, Divine Office
- Idolatryidol worship, false gods, idol, graven image, graven images
- pietydevoutness, holiness, piousness, godliness, righteousness
adorationhatred
Intense hostile aversion
hate · loathing · abhorrence · detestation · revulsion
adorationcontempt
Disdainful disregard
disdain · scorn · disrespect · derision · disesteem
adorationblasphemy
Irreverence toward the sacred
sacrilege · profanation · desecration · irreverence · apostasy