Synonyms of venerate

venerate

verb

ˈve-nə-ˌrāt 

as in to worship

to offer honor or respect to (someone) as a divine power

a proper setting in which to venerate God

Synonyms & Similar Words

• worship
• revere
• reverence
• honor
• admire
• adore
• respect
• praise
• deify
• glorify
• love
• regard
• extol
• please
• dignify
• exalt
• lionize
• laud
• canonize
• gratify
• apotheosize
• satisfy
• magnify
• delight

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• violate
• desecrate
• blaspheme
• insult
• ridicule
• scorn
• offend
• profane
• dishonor
• outrage
• slight
• disparage
• displease
• disrespect
• affront
• libel
• smear
• slander
• defame
• pique
• malign
• slur

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

Recent Examples of venerate

Since becoming a global celebrity in the mid-’90s, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy has become venerated for her restrained, aloof glamour. —Daniel D'addario, Variety, 3 Feb. 2026

One example of a prominent woman in these writings is Thecla, venerated for her persistence, courage and influence. —Christy Cobb, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2026

Walsh venerates Jimmy Kimmel Live! —Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026

Yoji shared that venerated director Akira Kurosawa always said that the camera should never be on stage when shooting a kabuki performance, nor move around to get close to the actors. —Sara Merican, Deadline, 3 Nov. 2025

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