as in respectful
formal
showing a lot of respect
a reverent crowd of worshippers They used a reverent tone of voice when speaking about their father.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of reverent
But while the performer known as V was, to the world, one of seven young men at the helm of the year’s most polished, cutting-edge wave of contemporary pop dominance, the artist who grew up Kim Tae-hyung was, in his personal life, a reverent fan of a much different genre: jazz.
—
Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 6 Dec. 2024
But despite hints of humor and sensuality, this adaptation can sometimes lapse into the reverent formality of a Masterpiece miniseries.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 2 Dec. 2024
At the center on one side was a life-size Virgin holding the Child, surrounded by 40 reverent haloed figures.
—Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2024
Beethoven would hardly recognize our concert-going culture, in which people sit in reverent silence, then clap politely and go home.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 16 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for reverent 
Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 6 Dec. 2024
But despite hints of humor and sensuality, this adaptation can sometimes lapse into the reverent formality of a Masterpiece miniseries.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 2 Dec. 2024
At the center on one side was a life-size Virgin holding the Child, surrounded by 40 reverent haloed figures.
—Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2024
Beethoven would hardly recognize our concert-going culture, in which people sit in reverent silence, then clap politely and go home.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 16 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for reverent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reverent
Adjective
-
In 2008, her father unsuccessfully ran against Barack Obama in the presidential election, but McCain and Obama maintained a cordial, respectful relationship.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
25 Jan. 2025
-
Bam Adebayo said there’s more to come for the reserved, respectful Stockholm, Sweden, native.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Her chef and housekeeper, Bruna (Alba Rohrwacher), is timid and worshipful but able to take quietly decisive action when necessary.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
25 Nov. 2024
-
In a country given to worshipful talk of Founding Fathers, this is not a new subject on the political stage.—
Molly Fischer,
The New Yorker,
1 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
After receiving the Living Legend Award from a reverential, cigarette-smoking Bono, Sinatra, who choked up immediately, launched into an acceptance speech dotted with humorous anecdotes and pauses.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA TODAY,
26 Jan. 2025
-
Some of the press has called me negatively reverential to Maria Callas.—
Beatrice Verhoeven,
The Hollywood Reporter,
22 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
The pious townspeople eat food for sustenance, not enjoyment, and for over a decade Babette dutifully prepares a rather drab-looking bread soup for the sisters, per their instructions.—
Eliana Dockterman,
TIME,
21 Dec. 2024
-
And yet something about her pious active listening face really gets to Urs.—
Caroline Framke,
Vulture,
20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
The label’s Orange tab, for one, is a holy grail for 1960s-era flared jeans; the Silver tab reflects grungier styles from the 1980s and 1990s.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
30 Jan. 2025
-
Chandler is one of several side characters John encounters on his journey who stand in for the hoards of people who encouraged him, either explicitly or implicitly, to pursue North Sentinel as a holy grail.—
Natalia Winkelman,
IndieWire,
28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Between the lines: Hegseth, who's been married three times, portrays himself as a family man and devout Christian.—
Mike Allen,
Axios,
14 Jan. 2025
-
This represents a substantive shift among the faithful: For decades, women were always more devout, both in U.S. churches and around the world.—
Jacob Turcotte,
The Christian Science Monitor,
13 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Bert Smith, a classical archaeologist at Oxford University, told the New York Times that the statue was probably made for religious purposes.—
George Nelson,
ARTnews.com,
27 Jan. 2025
-
Apocalyptic thinking fuelled the Crusades, stoked the English Civil Wars, and gave rise to seventeenth-century religious movements like the Fifth Monarchists.—
Arthur Krystal,
The New Yorker,
27 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near reverent
Cite this Entry
“Reverent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reverent. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share