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I'm looking for a word that describes the action of looking or thinking about someone, and taking them as better than the subject is.

For example,

I think you ______ him too much, he isn't really that good at math!

I thought about the word "overestimate", but its connotation is that thinking of the object as better is wrong (unjustly assuming that the object is better). I'm looking for a word that can fit into that sentence also (for example).

Of course I ______ her. She's my teacher, and I think she's very wise!

Is there a word or a phrase to describe that?

Edit for clarification: I'm looking for a word that can serve as the word 'overrate' in the first example, and as the word 'commend' in the second example.

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  • Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
    – tchrist
    Oct 22, 2016 at 17:23

1 Answer 1

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How about admire, esteem, or respect?

I think you admire, esteem, or respect him too much, he isn't really that good at math!

Of course I admire, esteem, or respect her. She's my teacher, and I think she's very wise!

From M-W:

admire: to feel respect or approval for (someone or something)

esteem: to think very highly or favorably of (someone or something)

respect: a feeling of admiring someone or something that is good, valuable, important, etc.

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