reverence 1 of 2

reverence

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb reverence differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of reverence are adore, revere, venerate, and worship. While all these words mean "to honor and admire profoundly and respectfully," 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

When can adore be used instead of reverence?

The words adore and reverence are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, adore implies love and stresses the notion of an individual and personal attachment.

we adored our doctor

When is it sensible to use revere instead of reverence?

While the synonyms revere and reverence are close in meaning, revere stresses deference and tenderness of feeling.

a professor revered by her students

Where would venerate be a reasonable alternative to reverence?

In some situations, the words venerate and reverence are roughly equivalent. However, venerate implies a holding as holy or sacrosanct because of character, association, or age.

heroes still venerated

In what contexts can worship take the place of reverence?

The synonyms worship and reverence are sometimes interchangeable, but worship implies homage usually expressed in words or ceremony.

worships their memory

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 reverence
Verb
But Trump also reverenced the tough job Emmer has in keeping the GOP majority together, with which Emmer is all too familiar after the chaotic last two years. Emily Brooks, The Hill, 3 Feb. 2025 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
Noun
These works, made entirely in nature and left to be reclaimed by it, speak to a deep reverence for impermanence and the fleeting beauty of the world around us. Y-Jean Mun-Delsalle, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025 Indeed, her portraits are unmistakable: characterized by saturated backdrops, tactile surfaces, and a deep reverence for Nigerian studio photography traditions that elevate her sitters to mythic status. Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 7 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for reverence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reverence
Verb
  • If a woman is to be venerated, she must first be unsexed, her look made blank.
    Lamorna Ash, The Dial, 6 May 2025
  • Founded in 1938 by saxophonist Henry Minton, this remnant of old Harlem has since been restored into a vibrant destination spot for upscale dining and ample space to witness some of NYC’s rising and venerated jazz voices.
    Shannon J. Effinger, AFAR Media, 18 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The Trump administration has greater political flexibility to make such an offer than did the Obama or Biden administrations, thanks to the Republican Party’s deference to Trump’s foreign policy initiatives.
    Richard Nephew, Foreign Affairs, 26 May 2025
  • The Vikings will play the Steelers in Ireland on Sept. 28, but not because of deference to the Vikings.
    Charley Walters, Twin Cities, 25 May 2025
Verb
  • No one is required to pay any admission fee to worship with us.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 19 May 2025
  • The painting was found on one of the house's walls, though archaeologists do not believe that the inhabitants worshiped Greek gods.
    Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2025
Noun
  • But in Kyiv, my Ukrainian aunt Vita immediately thought of Vladimir Putin. Advertisement Advertisement The Russian President has long made the veneration of World War II the central tenet of Russia’s national idea.
    Sasha Vasilyuk, Time, 8 May 2025
  • To the modern secular mind, the veneration of relics suggests a fetishistic obsession with death.
    Emily Harnett, Harpers Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Nightingales, or Bulbuls, are revered in Persian culture where their song represents a spiritual seeker looking for union with the divine.
    Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025
  • Today, it is revered around the world as the document that established the principle that everyone – including the monarch – was subject to the rule of law.
    Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • In the comment section, many celebrities shared their love and adoration for baby Jack, including rapper Sexxy Red, actress Justine Skye and Lori Harvey.
    Hannah Sacks, People.com, 11 May 2025
  • America’s irreplaceable contribution to winning that world war and preventing another deserves to be the object of adoration.
    Noah Rothman, National Review, 8 May 2025
Noun
  • His assessment is based not on the slack-jawed idolatry of elite-media toadies, but on sources nobody else thought to ring up and poke.
    Harpers Magazine, Harpers Magazine, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Unlike most contemporary acts subject to mass idolatry, Wolf Alice’s online presence (which, historically, has been minimal) has never been part of the appeal.
    Sophie Williams, Billboard, 1 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Reverence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reverence. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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