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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Recent Examples of reverential
The conversation has turned almost reverential, sometimes even a bit pretentious.
—
Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 31 Dec. 2025
Far from being familiar or reverential, the Tate show, curated by Amy Concannon, is a revelation.
—Jenny Uglow, The New York Review of Books, 27 Nov. 2025
There are also occasional flashes of Sharon Van Etten’s early 2010s albums, and producer Adam Schatz (of Landlady, who has also worked with Japanese Breakfast and Neko Case) has created a perfect setting for the songs that evokes the ’70s influences without being overly reverential.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
Maggie shows reverential awe for Alma, who carries the same regard for her student whilst having a nepotistic bond with Hank.
—Essence, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reverential
Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 31 Dec. 2025
Far from being familiar or reverential, the Tate show, curated by Amy Concannon, is a revelation.
—Jenny Uglow, The New York Review of Books, 27 Nov. 2025
There are also occasional flashes of Sharon Van Etten’s early 2010s albums, and producer Adam Schatz (of Landlady, who has also worked with Japanese Breakfast and Neko Case) has created a perfect setting for the songs that evokes the ’70s influences without being overly reverential.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
Maggie shows reverential awe for Alma, who carries the same regard for her student whilst having a nepotistic bond with Hank.
—Essence, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reverential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reverential
Adjective
-
In Wake-Keeper (2026), a roughly four-by-five-foot canvas, a pious man draped in the red cloth of traditional Ghanaian funeral attire sits on a stool with his hands clasped, his body facing the left side of the frame.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
The New York Review of Books,
6 June 2026
-
The aim wasn’t to make the chatbot Bible-thumping or pious.—
Chris Stokel-Walker,
Scientific American,
26 May 2026
Adjective
-
In your 3rd House of Communication, the unconscious Moon trines auspicious Jupiter in your 7th House of Partnerships, guiding firm, respectful agreements that keep commitments realistic.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
-
The veteran agent from CAA Sports no doubt would have preferred to manage this behind the scenes in a careful and respectful manner with Yzerman.—
Pierre LeBrun,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
Adjective
-
Nearly 4 million practice tai chi, and roughly 14% of adults practice some form of mindful or spiritual meditation.—
Samantha Agate,
Sacbee.com,
9 June 2026
-
Recently, church officials and sociologists alike have pointed to indications that young Spaniards are showing an increasing interest in their spiritual lives, with anecdotal reports of rises in conversions among young adults.—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
Adjective
-
This is a lovely, if rather decorous and reverent, tale of an illicit affair that’s unlikely to cause as much noise as Dhont’s last two films.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
22 May 2026
-
Nonetheless, mathematicians remember him with reverent affection.—
Konstantin Kakaes,
Quanta Magazine,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
For modern scholars of religious and social history, cheese is not the most exciting part of this discovery.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
The neighborhood is near major religious sites Abu Diab’s neighborhood, al-Bustan, extends through a valley just outside the Old City, with the dome of the Al-Aqsa Mosque visible above the towering walls.—
Sam Mednick,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
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
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Since 1980, her partner had been the kindly, worshipful Dutch actor Robert Wolders, whom Ferrer likens to a gentlemanly doormat.—
Hadley Hall Meares,
Vanity Fair,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reverential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reverential. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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