Meanings
comparative more idolatrous · superlative most idolatrous · alternative idololatrous
- Partaking in idolatry; worshipping idols or false gods.
the priests of an idolatrous religion
1 more example
Once Robert Smellie found her in a ruinous kirk on the Lang Muir, where of old the idolatrous rites of Rome were practiced.
1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide - Engaging in excessive attachment or reverence; inordinately or profanely devoted.
An idolatrous veneration for antiquity.
- Used in or designed for idolatry; devoted to idols or idol-worship.
An idolatrous image or temple.
- Of or pertaining to idolatry.
1 more example
Next morning, I sent two of my companions to make enquiry about our prospects, but they returned in the afternoon to report that things were not at all promising, as a number of shopkeepers who traded in articles used for idolatrous worship had already engaged the Towncrier to go round and announce that anyone who rented, leased, or sold premises to the "Jesus-Church" would be seized and buried alive!
1915, William Campbell, Sketches from Formosa, Marshall Brothers Limited, page 75
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveblindly or excessively devoted or adoring
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Englishidolatry
- Proto-Indo-European*h₃ed-
- Proto-Indo-European*h₃édosder.?
- Englishidolatrous
Translations
Bulgarian идолопоклоннически
- идолопоклоннически (idolopoklonničeski)partaking in idolatry
Catalan idòlatra, idòlatra
- idòlatrapartaking in idolatry
- idòlatraengaging in excessive attachment or reverence
Dutch afgodisch, idolaat
- afgodischpartaking in idolatry
- idolaatpartaking in idolatry
- idolaatengaging in excessive attachment or reverence
Finnish kuvia palvova
- kuvia palvovapartaking in idolatry
French idolâtre, idolâtre
- idolâtrepartaking in idolatry
- idolâtreengaging in excessive attachment or reverence
German götzendienerisch, abgöttisch
- götzendienerischpartaking in idolatry
- abgöttischengaging in excessive attachment or reverence
Greek ειδωλολατρικός, εἰδωλολατρικός
- ειδωλολατρικός (eidololatrikós)partaking in idolatry
- εἰδωλολατρικός (eidōlolatrikós)partaking in idolatry
- φανατικός (fanatikós)engaging in excessive attachment or reverence
Lithuanian stabmeldiškas
- stabmeldiškaspartaking in idolatry
Polish bałwochwalczy, bałwochwalczy
- bałwochwalczypartaking in idolatry
- bałwochwalczyengaging in excessive attachment or reverence
Portuguese idólatra, idólatra
- idólatrapartaking in idolatry
- idólatraengaging in excessive attachment or reverence
Russian ѝдолопокло́ннический, ѝдолопокло́ннический
- ѝдолопокло́ннический (ìdolopoklónničeskij)partaking in idolatry
- ѝдолопокло́ннический (ìdolopoklónničeskij)engaging in excessive attachment or reverence
Spanish idólatra, idólatra
- idólatrapartaking in idolatry
- idólatraengaging in excessive attachment or reverence
Swedish avgudisk, avgudadyrkande
- avgudiskpartaking in idolatry
- avgudadyrkandepartaking in idolatry
Ukrainian ідолопокло́нницький
- ідолопокло́нницький (idolopoklónnycʹkyj)partaking in idolatry
Cite this entry
idolatrous. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/idolatrous
“idolatrous.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/idolatrous. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “idolatrous,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/idolatrous.
Source: idolatrous on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.