Entry Word: venerable

Function: adjective

Meaning: 1 deserving honor and respect especially by reason of age <the venerable old man was a cherished source of advice and wisdom for the villagers>

Synonyms hallowed, revered, reverend, venerated

Related Words honorable, reputable, respectable; honored, respected, reverenced; admirable, estimable, redoubtable; good, moral, righteous

Near Antonyms bad, discreditable, disgraceful, dishonorable, disreputable, ignominious, infamous, loose, notorious, shameful; immoral, seamy, shady, sordid, unsavory, vile, wicked; base, contemptible, despicable, detestable, dirty, low, mean, wretched

2 dating or surviving from the distant past <a venerable tradition that colleges have been maintaining for centuries> — see ancient 1