reverence 1 of 2

Definition of reverencenext

reverence

2 of 2

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 Pi is precociously enlightened, his innocence not a problem to be rectified but a quality to be reverenced. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025 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
Noun
What much of America doesn’t understand is that with trauma, layers and layers of trauma, can also eventually emerge self-awareness, insight, a free and open reliance on community, and, finally, perhaps a new, however strange-seeming, kind of reverence. Ed Bok Lee, Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026 Unnerved by his son’s reverence, Big Ant keeps his distance from the boy and subtly pressures him to toughen up and abandon his artistic pursuits. Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 29 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reverence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reverence
Verb
  • Since becoming a global celebrity in the mid-’90s, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy has become venerated for her restrained, aloof glamour.
    Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 3 Feb. 2026
  • One example of a prominent woman in these writings is Thecla, venerated for her persistence, courage and influence.
    Christy Cobb, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Even so, these controversies have demonstrated that what artists say about this issue is not treated with the deference that creative expression is traditionally afforded in democracies.
    Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Traditionally judges have reviewed agency moves with deference.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • This is the reception rotunda for Steinway Hall, a landmarked interior, where generations of pianists came to worship their instrument, talk craft, perform, and play.
    Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 9 Feb. 2026
  • After a childhood spent worshipping the Ramones and the Replacements, Billie Joe Armstrong co-founded Green Day with bassist Mike Dirnt in 1987.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Two of his followers were the parents of Kim Il Sung, and Cheng tracks how a family’s faith and American proselytizing became the roots of Kimilsungism, the ideology elevating the rulers of North Korea to a nearly deified state of veneration.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
  • The removal of the skull, according to study authors, signifies an act of remembrance, social memory, and ancestral veneration.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 4 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Despite some high-profile falls into disgrace, India’s spiritual leaders are widely revered.
    Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Turning to coaching, they were revered at the New York Skating Club at Madison Square Garden, where they were known for their strict emphasis on figures and classical skating—and Brunet became known for his habit of smoking cigarettes in succession while demonstrating maneuvers.
    Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 3 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The retreat will include interactive talks, personal time for couples’ reflection and discussion, a continental breakfast and catered lunch, and adoration with a special blessing for the couples.
    Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
  • My list is filled with personal adoration for each of these plants.
    Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • What’s troubling is the gradual and persistent normalization of eating disorder culture, which includes the glorification of one specific body type to the exclusion and detriment of others.
    Michelle Konstantinovsky, Glamour, 22 Dec. 2025
  • Critics said the jeans campaign amounted to a dog whistle for eugenics and a glorification of whiteness.
    Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • But the Turkish big man is also representative of a more meaningful trend, which was on display again this week, even before the Nuggets visited Houston — a recent proliferation of Jokic idolatry throughout the sport.
    Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 21 Nov. 2025
  • In the Bible, Egypt occupies a central place, mentioned repeatedly as a land of refuge – notably for Joseph – but also as a nation of idolatry and as the cradle of slavery.
    Charles Vanthournout, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Reverence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reverence. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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