A person who attracts widespread romantic admiration, often through public image.
Reach for it when describing popular attraction in light entertainment copy without objectifying the person
The former teen heartthrob returned as the thoughtful director of a small ensemble.
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| professional | |
| literary |
playful
crush
Fits when one person's romantic attraction is being named
Careful A crush is the feeling or its object, not necessarily a widely admired public figure.
playful
Fits when deliberately old-fashioned flirtatious praise fits the voice
Careful Dreamboat is dated and focuses almost entirely on appearance.
everyday
idol
Fits when intense admiration from fans is the main fact
Careful Idol can concern talent, politics, or status without romantic attraction.
professional
romantic lead
Fits when the person's role in a story is more relevant than real-life attraction
Careful A romantic lead may not be a public heartthrob outside the work.
literary
matinee idol
Fits when classic screen or stage celebrity is the context
Careful The phrase is historically marked and wrong for most modern figures.
literary
pinup
Fits when public image and visual desirability are historically relevant
Careful Pinup reduces the person to an image and can feel objectifying.
teen heartthrob
The teen heartthrob used the interview to credit the full dance company.
unlikely heartthrob
The gentle radio host became an unlikely heartthrob among listeners.
former heartthrob
A former heartthrob now produces documentaries about rural theaters.
Keep in mind
Heartthrob can objectify people. Prefer role, craft, or achievement when appearance is not genuinely relevant.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, public domain Updated
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