VENERABLE Synonyms: 118 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'venerable' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of venerable are ancient , antiquated , antique , archaic , obsolete , and old . While all these words mean "having come into existence or use in the more or less distant past," venerable stresses the impressiveness and dignity of great age. // the family's venerable patriarch

Q: When might 'ancient' be a better fit than 'venerable'?

While in some cases nearly identical to venerable , ancient applies to occurrence, existence, or use in or survival from the distant past. // ancient accounts of dragons

Q: In what contexts can 'antiquated' take the place of 'venerable'?

The synonyms antiquated and venerable are sometimes interchangeable, but antiquated implies being discredited or outmoded or otherwise inappropriate to the present time. // antiquated teaching methods

Q: When is 'antique' a more appropriate choice than 'venerable'?

The meanings of antique and venerable largely overlap; however, antique applies to what has come down from a former or ancient time. // collected antique Chippendale furniture

Q: When would 'archaic' be a good substitute for 'venerable'?

While the synonyms archaic and venerable are close in meaning, archaic implies having the character or characteristics of a much earlier time. // the play used archaic language to convey a sense of period

Q: Where would 'obsolete' be a reasonable alternative to 'venerable'?

In some situations, the words obsolete and venerable are roughly equivalent. However, obsolete may apply to something regarded as no longer acceptable or useful even though it is still in existence. // a computer that makes earlier models obsolete

Q: When could 'old' be used to replace 'venerable'?

The words old and venerable can be used in similar contexts, but old may apply to either actual or merely relative length of existence. // old houses // an old sweater of mine

venerable

adjective

ˈve-nər(-ə)-bəl

Definition of venerable

as in venerated

deserving honor and respect especially by reason of age the venerable old man was a cherished source of advice and wisdom for the villagers

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in ancient

dating or surviving from the distant past a venerable tradition that colleges have been maintaining for centuries

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective venerable differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of venerable are ancient, antiquated, antique, archaic, obsolete, and old. While all these words mean "having come into existence or use in the more or less distant past," venerable stresses the impressiveness and dignity of great age.

the family's venerable patriarch

When might ancient be a better fit than venerable?

While in some cases nearly identical to venerable, ancient applies to occurrence, existence, or use in or survival from the distant past.

ancient accounts of dragons

In what contexts can antiquated take the place of venerable?

The synonyms antiquated and venerable are sometimes interchangeable, but antiquated implies being discredited or outmoded or otherwise inappropriate to the present time.

antiquated teaching methods

When is antique a more appropriate choice than venerable?

The meanings of antique and venerable largely overlap; however, antique applies to what has come down from a former or ancient time.

collected antique Chippendale furniture

When would archaic be a good substitute for venerable?

While the synonyms archaic and venerable are close in meaning, archaic implies having the character or characteristics of a much earlier time.

the play used archaic language to convey a sense of period

Where would obsolete be a reasonable alternative to venerable?

In some situations, the words obsolete and venerable are roughly equivalent. However, obsolete may apply to something regarded as no longer acceptable or useful even though it is still in existence.

a computer that makes earlier models obsolete

When could old be used to replace venerable?

The words old and venerable can be used in similar contexts, but old may apply to either actual or merely relative length of existence.

old houses

an old sweater of mine

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 venerable Though easy to state, the venerable twin prime conjecture remains unproven. — Benjamin Skuse, IEEE Spectrum, 17 Aug. 2026 The venerable establishment was undamaged, but shut down amid the chaos. — Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026 These are just two of several recent high-profile wins, providing a financial windfall for the venerable investment bank. — Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2026 Abine’s venerable DeleteMe costs quite a bit less, $129 per year. — Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for venerable

Recent Examples of Synonyms for venerable

Adjective

The site remains a venerated Buddhist shrine used for local worship.

— Jack Tydeman, Travel + Leisure, 26 July 2026
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

Definition of venerated

Adjective

Like yoga or dance, the experience is a workout that feels in alignment with the body’s natural movements, at an intensity appropriate to wielding an ancient weapon.

— Rebecca Leib, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026
Villa Celimontana dates to the 16th century, when it was developed as a noble residence on Caelian Hill, one of the seven hills of ancient Rome.

— Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of ancient

Adjective

Once England’s record goalscorer, Lineker was a revered national icon and went on to become a top broadcaster at the helm of the BBC’s weekly top division highlights show Match of the Day for 26 years after retiring.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2026
Hurzeler is reflecting on two conversations in recent months with one of football’s most revered managers during an exclusive interview with The Athletic, as the German prepares for a third season working in the Premier League.

— Andy Naylor, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of revered

Adjective

So when the 36-year-old was pronounced dead in a South Carolina apartment on Sunday, shock and grief stretched around the world.

— Holly Yan, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
Chinese humanoid robot maker Unitree Robotics saw its shares jump as much as 629% during its Wednesday market debut in Shanghai—an eye-popping rally that pushed 36-year-old chairman and CEO Wang Xingxing’s net worth to $16 billion.

— Yue Wang, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of old

Adjective

Insider tip Do what respectable hockey writers do and stay at the Marriott Château Champlain.

— Josh Yohe, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Yesterday’s punk, grunge, and rebel-outsider upstarts have an uncanny way of evolving into today’s elder statesmen of respectable infamy.

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of respectable

Adjective

Related Articles An antique dealer friends with Dertz later identified it as a missing Picasso that had been stolen from DeLind’s gallery in 2018; a DeLind Fine Art Appraisals sticker was still attached to the back of the frame.

— Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Inside, antique art hangs on walls, tamgroute (local pottery) lines small alcoves, board games are stacked inside cupboards, and coffee table books have plenty to dive into.

— Katie Silcox, Vogue, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of antique

Adjective

Another day trip option is the hilltop town of Erice, where there's a medieval fortress that's over 2,500 years old.

— Megan Rose Murray, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
According to a medieval historian at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in England, Pope Alexander had his own bone to pick with King Harold.

— Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of medieval

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venerable

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“Venerable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/venerable. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of venerable

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