verheerlijk

Verheerlijk is a Dutch verb meaning to glorify or praise highly, often to portray someone or something as exceptionally good or virtuous. It can also mean to idealize or sanctify beyond what is warranted, resulting in a biased or noncritical portrayal.

Etymology: The verb derives from the adjective heerlijk, meaning glorious or splendid, with the prefix ver- that forms verbs indicating rendering or intensification. The sense is to render something as glorious or ideal.

Usage: Verheerlijk is used in literary criticism, journalism, politics, and religious discourse. It can be neutral when describing a hagiographic depiction, but more commonly carries a critical nuance when it signals excessive or propagandistic praise. For example, a critic might say that a media campaign verheerlijkte a political figure, concealing shortcomings.

Noun form and related terms: The related noun is verheerlijking, referring to the act or result of glorifying. A related adjective is verheerlijkend, meaning glorifying or exalting, and a related agent noun is verheerlijker, meaning one who glorifies, though the latter is less commonly used.

See also: Glorification and idealization in Dutch rhetoric. Verheerlijking is often discussed in analyses of propaganda, marketing, and historical narratives where praise is framed as objective praise rather than subjective admiration.