adore 1 of 3

Definition of adorenext
1
2
3
4

adoring

2 of 3

adjective

adoring

3 of 3

verb (2)

present participle of adore
1
2
3
4

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
Verb
Chuck Norris, the martial artist and action movie icon whose toughness became an increasingly exaggerated legend among his adoring fans, has died. Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026 Yes, its name is an homage to the classic leporine book, with grassy notes a rabbit might adore. Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Having a constant loving, happy, and adoring presence makes Kirk’s solo road trips feel far from lonely. Outside Online, 29 Aug. 2024 In Australia, where Abacus sold the rights to SBS, the critical reception was similarly adoring, and Acorn TV has rights in the U.S. and Canada. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 17 July 2024
Verb
This is a true Kouri, a devoted wife and adoring mother. ABC News, 15 Mar. 2026 Toward the end, Chino started feeling the rock & roll energy and leapt offstage, crowd-surfing into adoring fans. Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for adore
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adore
Adjective
  • In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Daniel is choosing to remember Allison as a loving individual who spent her last moments taking care of her friend in need.
    Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 29 Mar. 2026
  • Audrey Jones described her brother — who left behind two children — as loving, kind and compassionate.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Deeply affectionate and laugh-out-loud funny, this delightful comedy is the directorial debut of Maude Apatow.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Helm is the curious, mercurial, impish, affectionate and dangerous air current of the English Pennines, swooping over the Eden District from prehistory until now.
    The Know, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Essentially worshipful in its view of Lee, the movie never acknowledges that one person drawing so much unbridled admiration is more than a little creepy.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 25 Dec. 2025
  • But while his adoration does have an erotic edge to it (see: The Shape of Water), on the whole, his affection for the misshapen and the outcast among us is more worshipful than overtly lusty.
    Katie Rife, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Its theme — that the rich are different, and in not-good ways — meant she’d be forced into a ritualistic game of hide-and-seek, running for her life from her devil-worshipping, masters-of-the-world in-laws.
    Michael Ordoña, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Lately, though, some of the brand’s content has found an appreciative audience among people who believe the United States would be better off without immigrants and people of color.
    Will Richmond, The Providence Journal, 23 Mar. 2026
  • The co-directors and producer Sarah Strunin spoke to an appreciative Copenhagen audience after a screening early this week.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 17 Mar. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Adore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adore. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on adore

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster