Synonym Chooser

How does the verb venerate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of venerate are adore, reverence, revere, and worship. While all these words mean "to honor and admire profoundly and respectfully," venerate implies a holding as holy or sacrosanct because of character, association, or age.

heroes still venerated

Where would adore be a reasonable alternative to venerate?

The synonyms adore and venerate are sometimes interchangeable, but adore implies love and stresses the notion of an individual and personal attachment.

we adored our doctor

When can revere be used instead of venerate?

While in some cases nearly identical to venerate, revere stresses deference and tenderness of feeling.

a professor revered by her students

When is reverence a more appropriate choice than venerate?

Although the words reverence and venerate have much in common, reverence presupposes an intrinsic merit and inviolability in the one honored and a similar depth of feeling in the one honoring.

reverenced the academy's code of honor

In what contexts can worship take the place of venerate?

In some situations, the words worship and venerate are roughly equivalent. However, worship implies homage usually expressed in words or ceremony.

worships their memory

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 venerate Firing the Fed chair or forcing out a governor would threaten the Fed’s venerated independence, which has long been supported by most economists and Wall Street investors. Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 22 Aug. 2025 This should matter to folks on the left and the right, to those who venerate higher education and those who vote in favor of states’ rights against federal overreach. Giuliana Perrone, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2025 The deepest malice for mankind causes one to venerate Hitler. Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2025 The church has received visitors and pilgrims for decades who venerate the saint's faith. Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for venerate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for venerate
Verb
  • Promote people who can lead people, not just worship AI.
    Jason Walker PsyD, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Yet the music icon, still worshiped decades after his death, was intimidated by one artist.
    Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • In the annals of professional golf, the majors are the sure-fire blockbusters—globally resonant, historically revered, and able to draw the widest audience.
    Mike Dojc, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Though irony, an approach Alighieri actually revered, isn’t so much Schnabel’s prerogative.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But Pi is precociously enlightened, his innocence not a problem to be rectified but a quality to be reverenced.
    Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025
  • But Trump also reverenced the tough job Emmer has in keeping the GOP majority together, with which Emmer is all too familiar after the chaotic last two years.
    Emily Brooks, The Hill, 3 Feb. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Venerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/venerate. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on venerate

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!