1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

reverent

adjective

Definition of reverentnext
as in respectful
formal showing a lot of respect a reverent crowd of worshippers They used a reverent tone of voice when speaking about their father.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 reverent The Lost Boys gave us the chance to create something that feels reverent toward the film while still staking its own claim. — Shivani Vora, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026 The wedding processional began with the majestic, resonant tones of the historic church organ, setting a reverent and grand atmosphere. — Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026 This contemporary-chic new venture counts Chalee Kader (whose Wana Yook restaurant has one Michelin star) among its owners and serves hearty Thai dishes, both reverent and reinterpreted, amid abstract paintings and an electro-rock soundtrack. — The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2026 Not a hushed and reverent scene at all, lively and fun. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for reverent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reverent
  1. respectful
  2. worshipful
  3. reverential
  4. pious
  5. holy
  6. devout
Adjective
  • But there are hardly any screens left that are respectful to pixels.
    — Shanti Escalante-De Mattei, ARTnews.com, 14 Sep. 2026
  • There are many entry points, some more reliable (and respectful to the victims) than others.
    — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of respectful
Adjective
  • After a while, though, all the professions of sincerity and thanks, the constant invocations of the one true POTUS, and the worshipful exhibits upstairs give the whole place a cultish, nostalgic gleam.
    — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 4 June 2026
  • The secret in the biscuits is the pairing of cheddar with bacon, with the overall result being worshipful thanks from those who are lucky enough to partake.
    — Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 25 May 2026
Definition of worshipful
Adjective
  • Luccardi’s relationship with it was rather less reverential by the end of the shoot.
    — Callum McLennan, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026
  • There was the viral pleasure and even pride in seeing foreigners encounter Buc-ee’s with reverential appreciation or giddily experience industrial quantities of Mountain Dew Baja Blast at Taco Bell.
    — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
Definition of reverential
Adjective
  • Preachers and patricians constantly warned that, if allowed to live unchecked in the city, Jews would ‘infect’ the Christian faithful, poisoning the minds of the pious and stealing souls away from salvation.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Romania is one of the most pious countries in the European Union, with around 85% of the population identifying as religious.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of pious
Adjective
  • The Houthis have denied launching an attack on the city, considered the holiest site in Islam.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Bahrain has opened most F1 seasons in recent years and was only moved from that position in 2025 and 2026 because of a clash with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of holy
Adjective
  • The early Robin Hood was no polished folk hero, Jones says, but a violent, devout yeoman pushed to society’s edge by corrupt officials.
    — JP Mangalindan, Time, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Johnny Cash was a lot of things — devout Christian, country superstar, anti-Vietnam activist, variety show host.
    — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of devout

Browse Nearby Words

reverends
reverent
reverential
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Reverent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reverent. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of elegiac

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 18
See More

Popular

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
crayons-in-a-circle
Guess the Color Quiz Questions that use the whole box of crayons.
See All