Deep love, respect, or worship for someone or something. It often suggests intense admiration that can feel almost like worship.
From Latin *adoratio* “worship,” from *adorare* “to worship, to pray to,” built from *ad-* “to” and *orare* “to speak, pray.” It came into English through Old French.
Originally, ‘adoration’ was less about cute puppies and more about religious worship—literally speaking prayers toward something. When you ‘adore’ a person or a song, you’re giving it a tiny form of worship in your daily life.
Cultural narratives often depict women and girls as objects of adoration for their beauty or purity, while men are more often admired for achievements or power. Religious and romantic discourses have used "adoration" in ways that reinforce passive roles for women.
Use "adoration" without assuming a gendered direction (e.g., men adoring women); describe what is being valued (character, actions, ideas) rather than only appearance, especially for women and girls.
["deep admiration","reverence","strong affection"]
Women have also been central figures of spiritual and political adoration as leaders and thinkers, though their agency is sometimes downplayed in favor of idealized images.
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