reverential

adjective

Definition of reverentialnext
as in pious
formal showing or having a lot of respect a reverential attitude They spoke in reverential terms about their recently departed spiritual advisor.

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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 reverential Rather than offering a reverential homage, the concept recalls the original’s aggressive sophistication, while integrating bleeding-edge advancements. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 17 June 2026 The Followers have bent elbows and knees and prayerful cupped hands, and often move with little birdlike hops around the Preacher (Jai Perez), who presides with proud posture and reverential knee-hinges to the floor. — Jennifer Homans, New Yorker, 27 Apr. 2026 Penguins players lingered on the ice, hoping for a reverential handshake. — Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 12 Apr. 2026 But Marshals the standalone spinoff takes a backseat to Marshals the reverential sequel. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reverential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reverential
  1. pious
  2. respectful
  3. spiritual
  4. reverent
  5. religious
  6. worshipful
Adjective
  • Adenauer, De Gasperi, and Schuman were all devout Catholics, and Monnet, though not a religious man, was born into a pious Catholic family.
    — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Philemon and Baucis, a pious Phrygian couple, hospitably received the disguised Zeus and Hermes after their richer neighbors had refused to do so.
    — Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 July 2026
Definition of pious
Adjective
  • Trump is certain to get Miss Manners approval for saying the leader of North Korea has been respectful and unthreatening.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Alex and Geddy headed to the tennis section while the three of us followed at a respectful distance, trying to keep cool.
    — Kevin Griffin, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of respectful
Adjective
  • The story seems a spiritual festival on the German-Polish border become an ensemble dramedy about healing and reinvention.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2026
  • But Watts, who is well-versed in gnosticism — an esoteric, religious philosophy that places emphasis on the spiritual realm and obtaining wisdom about oneself — seemed to have had a profound impact on McCollough’s worldview.
    — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of spiritual
Adjective
  • These movies always run the risk of being overly reverent, and for better and worse, Johnson’s take on Bourdain’s formative years is not concerned with reverence.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of reverent
Adjective
  • There is also persistent friction between Arab and Kurdish communities in the northeast of the country, and the government has had to respond to pockets of violence against the religious Alawite minority along Syria’s coast.
    — Paula Hancocks, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Luk grew up without religion, but many childhood friends were religious and invited her to churches and youth groups.
    — Callum McLennan, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of religious
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

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Cite this Entry

“Reverential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reverential. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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