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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb adore differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of adore are reverence, revere, venerate, and worship. While all these words mean "to honor and admire profoundly and respectfully," adore implies love and stresses the notion of an individual and personal attachment.

we adored our doctor

When could revere be used to replace adore?

The words revere and adore can be used in similar contexts, but revere stresses deference and tenderness of feeling.

a professor revered by her students

When can reverence be used instead of adore?

While in some cases nearly identical to adore, 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 would venerate be a good substitute for adore?

The meanings of venerate and adore largely overlap; however, venerate implies a holding as holy or sacrosanct because of character, association, or age.

heroes still venerated

When is worship a more appropriate choice than adore?

In some situations, the words worship and adore are roughly equivalent. However, 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 adore Hoosiers and insomniacs alike adored him. Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 29 Oct. 2025 Admired by friends and adored by women, his longing for love and recognition spurs him on. Zac Ntim, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025 But the inevitable bite is that Brigitte and Kevin will have to say goodbye to many adoring customers and staff. Kansas City Star, 29 Oct. 2025 Craig Claiborne and Mimi Sheraton adored them. The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 28 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for adore
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adore
Verb
  • Musical theater loves a go-getter, and halfhearted irony just can’t stand up to this much zazz.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
  • And petite travelers like myself will love that these are no-hemming-required, thanks to their 7/8 length that ends in a cheeky kick flare right below the calf.
    Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • And when diners nearby half-turned their heads to check if the foreigner liked it, Chen saw my expression of delight.
    Mike Valerio, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Did all the Luki members immediately like the idea of a film about or what was their reaction?
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Yoji shared that venerated director Akira Kurosawa always said that the camera should never be on stage when shooting a kabuki performance, nor move around to get close to the actors.
    Sara Merican, Deadline, 3 Nov. 2025
  • This is something new in the techno-sphere that for the longest time elevated and venerated the founder/CEO as superstar.
    Neil Senturia, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • If this group of hardened degenerates was able to enjoy the action at this level, who, exactly, are the spiritual victims of sports betting?
    Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2025
  • This is evident in their signature programs, such as those that recognize excellence among teachers, coaches, and healthcare workers, as well as initiatives that bring the community together to enjoy great local restaurants on the firm’s tab.
    William Jones, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The film depicts her establishment of the utopian society while the Shakers worship with song and dance.
    Giana Levy, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025
  • That gap gives congregations wide latitude to hire and restore youth pastors, worship leaders and other associate ministers — including those with histories of misconduct.
    Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Culturally, Shinto and Buddhist traditions emphasize respect for life and nature, which are deeply valued in Japan; in Nagano and Gifu prefectures, black bears are sometimes revered as mountain deities, researchers wrote in a paper this summer.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
  • The archipelago is revered as one of the best places to spot Brazil’s wildlife, both above and below the surface of the water.
    Carla Vianna, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Still, nostalgic home cooks are keeping the classics alive, recreating and sharing their takes and savoring the memories that come with them.
    Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Aboard an inflatable raft, guests drift down the Aare Canal toward the town of Interlaken, Switzerland, savoring a meal of bubbling raclette served over potatoes and two generous glasses of white wine.
    Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Smith grew up idolizing him as a boy in Louisville.
    Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
  • The action then jumps seventeen years into the future, where Morgan and Chris’s daughter, Clara (Mckenna Grace), is now a teen-ager who resents her mom’s protectiveness and idolizes her freewheeling aunt.
    Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Adore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adore. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on adore

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