reverend 1 of 2

adjective

ˈrev-rənd How to pronounce reverend (audio)
Definition of reverendnext
as in venerable
deserving honor and respect especially by reason of age our reverend elders should be accorded a special place of honor at the ceremonies

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

reverend

2 of 2

noun

as in priest
a person specially trained and authorized to conduct religious services in a Christian church called their reverend and asked if he could marry them next June

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 reverend
Adjective
No one was a better fit for the job to officiate Richie and Madden's 2010 wedding than the Run DMC frontman, who is a reverend IRL. — Grace Gavilanes, Peoplemag, 23 Aug. 2022 There before the reverend mother and God, the police (wielding rifles) and the butchers (wielding a cow trailer) managed to corral two of the steers. — Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2022
Noun
Curry said Firecracker is a lonely character, and her reverend is the only person on the show who sees and loves her earnestly. — Olivia Singh, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2026 The reverend stands tall at the pulpit and reads from the Gospel of Matthew. — Jonathan Bullington, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reverend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reverend
  1. venerable
  2. priest
  3. revered
  4. preacher
  5. venerated
  6. clergyman
  7. respectable
  8. deacon
Adjective
  • With sawdust on the asphalt and splintered wood on the hillside, one of the city’s most venerable trees was torn apart on Monday.
    — Thomas Lake, AJC.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • There's no shortage of high-end vehicles to drive these days and venerable automakers are competing to produce the greatest, most luxurious and flashiest status symbols.
    — Morgan Korn, ABC News, 25 July 2026
Definition of venerable
Noun
  • When 70 chickens at a local farm lay 128 eggs in just one night after the arrival of a red helmet biker Emanuel, the event is described as a miracle and Emanuel hailed by the local priest as a prophet of divine powers.
    — John Hopewell, Variety, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Moretta is 10 years past the customary retirement age for Catholic priests.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of priest
Adjective
  • The Mitsubishi Delica has long served as a revered nameplate in the JDM camper and off-road adventure van conversion space, both in Japan and in western markets like the UK, US and Australia.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2026
  • His revered mentor, José Antonio Abreu, who founded the educational program in 1975 with the conviction that learning music can, in bettering lives, lead to profound social change.
    — Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of revered
Noun
  • In the book, a man known only as the Shepherd, a one-handed, somewhat insane preacher, starts turning the masses of King’s Landing against the Targaryens — and their dragons.
    — James Grebey, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The Burkes were also very religious, with Dawud occasionally serving as a Pentecostal preacher.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of preacher
Adjective
  • On the night of June 15, a Russian drone directly hit the most venerated site for Ukraine’s majority Orthodox Christians, and indeed for much of Eastern Christendom.
    — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 26 June 2026
  • To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the landmark live release, Frampton recounts his history in bands The Herd and Humble Pie before striking stadium-sellout gold as a solo star with venerated guitar chops and an inventive talk box.
    — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 3 June 2026
Definition of venerated
Noun
  • Such details include McCartney’s bare feet and opposite stride and the other members’ attire (Lennon’s white supposedly represents a clergyman, Starr’s black a mourner, and Harrison’s denim a gravedigger).
    — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 July 2026
  • Robin, our hero, is the son of a country clergyman.
    — John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 15 June 2026
Definition of clergyman
Adjective
  • Hopefully the quarterback Miami guaranteed $45 million over the next two seasons to as a free agent will blossom into a respectable, if not top shelf NFL starter in time.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2026
  • So far, the show has a very respectable 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, though that could move either direction once the series is out for the masses.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of respectable
Noun
  • The Archdiocese of Baltimore released a statement confirming that Goedeke served as a Catholic Church deacon and former Catholic school teacher.
    — Bryan Lynn, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Among the residential buildings were the home of a deacon named Tisous and another that researchers think may have originally been a house church before the construction of the basilica.
    — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of deacon

Browse Nearby Words

reverencing
reverend
Reverend Mother
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Cite this Entry

“Reverend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reverend. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on reverend

Nglish: Translation of reverend for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about reverend

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