1. officially declaring someone to be a saint in the Catholic Church
Usage: religious
2. treating someone or something as if they are perfect or beyond criticism

Examples

• The Pope is canonizing three new saints this year.
• The church spent decades canonizing Mother Teresa.
• Critics accused the media of canonizing the celebrity after his death.
• We shouldn’t be canonizing historical figures without examining their flaws.
• The process of canonizing saints requires extensive investigation.
• Many fans are canonizing the retired athlete as the greatest of all time.