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
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Recent Examples of reverential
The fight between the two very different billionaires is emblematic of a growing culture clash in the art world, as the old guard faces off with collectors from the tech sector who tend to be less reverential toward the market’s norms.
—
Rachel Corbett, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2025
Inaba’s portrait of the human-feline relationship is reverential, an expression of devotion in its attention to detail.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025
His age, recent back-to-back bouts of cancer and ongoing radiotherapy complications notwithstanding, Book’s drive is so tireless that it’s become something of a reverential joke among many who interact with him.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2025
While reverential to the brand’s history and its signature bravado, Puglisi brings a thoughtfulness to his work that his predecessors largely resisted.
—Ian Malone, Vogue, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reverential
Rachel Corbett, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2025
Inaba’s portrait of the human-feline relationship is reverential, an expression of devotion in its attention to detail.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025
His age, recent back-to-back bouts of cancer and ongoing radiotherapy complications notwithstanding, Book’s drive is so tireless that it’s become something of a reverential joke among many who interact with him.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2025
While reverential to the brand’s history and its signature bravado, Puglisi brings a thoughtfulness to his work that his predecessors largely resisted.
—Ian Malone, Vogue, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reverential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reverential
Adjective
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The baron and his pious daughter seem at peace with their mutual estrangement until Zsa-zsa suddenly decides to break that habit.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
18 May 2025
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But while the main character’s mother in that movie was an antagonistic figure, Fatima’s parents are portrayed as kind, not dogmatic or ostentatiously pious.—
Jon Frosch,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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The call started as expected – respectful and professional on both sides.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
People.com,
7 June 2025
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His cultural instinct to retreat into respectful silence was misread by headquarters as weakness, nearly derailing his career trajectory.—
Katrina Burrus,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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Francis’s wan desire for a spiritual element to his reconciliation with his brothers is probably Anderson’s get-out-of-jail-free card for this movie being aware of its own shallowness.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
12 June 2025
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Those who work at White Pony speak of it with a spiritual reverence.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2025
Adjective
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The cyberpunk chaos spirals into shoot-outs with telekinesis and giant mutant babies, all of it spectacular and ingrained in reverent filmmakers’ memories.—
Kambole Campbell,
Vulture,
25 Apr. 2025
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Of course, Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron is still a reverent work, leaving out a few messier strands of the man’s life that Miyazaki-heads might be curious about.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
12 Sep. 2024
Adjective
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Both have engendered a loyalty in their audiences which verges on the religious.—
Eric Lach,
New Yorker,
8 June 2025
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The plaintiffs -- which included a group of Arkansas voters and the Christian Ministerial Alliance, a religious organization based in Little Rock -- argued the map weakens the weight of Black voters residing in southeast Pulaski County.—
Alex Thomas,
Arkansas Online,
7 June 2025
Adjective
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Conway, an Irishman like Fennell, rides a motorbike, inspires worshipful devotion in his crew, and can free-dive to extraordinary depths.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
19 May 2025
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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,
20 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reverential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reverential. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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