Synonym Chooser

How does the verb venerate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of venerate are adore, reverence, revere, and worship. While all these words mean "to honor and admire profoundly and respectfully," venerate implies a holding as holy or sacrosanct because of character, association, or age.

heroes still venerated

Where would adore be a reasonable alternative to venerate?

The synonyms adore and venerate are sometimes interchangeable, but adore implies love and stresses the notion of an individual and personal attachment.

we adored our doctor

When can revere be used instead of venerate?

While in some cases nearly identical to venerate, revere stresses deference and tenderness of feeling.

a professor revered by her students

When is reverence a more appropriate choice than venerate?

Although the words reverence and venerate have much in common, reverence presupposes an intrinsic merit and inviolability in the one honored and a similar depth of feeling in the one honoring.

reverenced the academy's code of honor

In what contexts can worship take the place of venerate?

In some situations, the words worship and venerate are roughly equivalent. However, worship implies homage usually expressed in words or ceremony.

worships their memory

Examples 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 venerate This Cats has introduced us to a community that pointedly loves and venerates its elders — its survivors — and Grizabella’s name even appears at the end of a post-intermission slideshow paying tribute to the real founding mothers of the ball world’s iconic houses. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 20 June 2024 During the first millennium, people from southern Mexico to western Honduras venerated him as a god of agriculture, lightning and royalty. James L. Fitzsimmons, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2024 Outdoor altars venerating various saints are located throughout the town. Catherine Sabino, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024 This history is often celebrated in scholarship on fiber art, which typically venerates figures such as Albers and Hicks for using the techniques of ancient Andean textiles to create modernist masterpieces. K. L. H. Wells, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for venerate 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for venerate
Verb
  • Personifying wisdom and fertility, promising success in combat and romance to all who worship at their feet, the goddesses are universally understandable.
    Jonathon Keats, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
  • And in that moment, my faith was worshiping this very beautiful man.
    Liam Hess, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • The emo band’s sophomore album took a turn toward shoegaze and post-punk that, while unexpected, was eventually revered by fans.
    Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 10 Dec. 2024
  • In her original cultural context, she was revered as a symbol of power and change.
    Anita Kopacz, People.com, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Saint Heron remains dedicated to empowering future art practitioners by reverencing the spiritual act of creating and spotlighting artists’ unwavering devotion to the intergenerational language of expression.
    Dominique Fluker, Essence, 16 June 2023
  • The four core Franciscan values are: showing compassion, making peace, creating a caring community, and reverencing all of creation.
    Journal Sentinel, Journal Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2023

Podcast

Thesaurus Entries Near venerate

Cite this Entry

“Venerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/venerate. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on venerate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!