Synonyms of worship

worship 1 of 2

noun

as in adoration

excessive admiration of or devotion to a person

the worship of professional athletes who often turn out to be all too fallible

Synonyms & Similar Words

• adoration
• worshipping
• idolatry
• deification
• hero worship
• reverence
• adulation
• appreciation
• idolization
• veneration
• affection
• deference
• love
• glorification
• idealization
• respect
• approval
• liking
• esteem
• like
• fondness
• regard
• romanticization
• favor
• fancy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• condemnation
• hatred
• dismissal
• disregard
• disapproval
• scorn
• dislike
• loathing
• disfavor

worship

2 of 2

verb

ˈwər-shəp 

1

as in to venerate

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

the ancient Greeks worshipped many different gods

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

2

as in to love

to feel passion, devotion, or tenderness for

the new father worships his baby daughter, and would do anything for her

Synonyms & Similar Words

• love
• adore
• fall for
• carry the torch (for)
• cherish
• idolize
• reverence
• carry a torch (for)
• revere
• lose one's heart (to)
• venerate
• idealize
• adulate
• deify
• canonize
• delight (in)
• dote (on)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hate
• despise
• detest
• abhor
• loathe
• antagonize
• displease
• dislike
• abominate
• disapprove (of)
• revolt
• execrate
• repel
• turn off
• disgust
• sicken
• repulse
• disfavor
• nauseate

3

as in to adore

to love or admire too much

thought that some of her fellow senior citizens worshipped the old days too much, observing that they weren't all good

Synonyms & Similar Words

• adore
• like
• idolize
• hero-worship
• revere
• deify
• adulate
• dote (on)
• canonize
• regard
• appreciate
• treasure
• prefer
• cherish
• respect
• value
• venerate
• prize
• esteem
• favor
• fancy
• approve
• endorse
• hallow
• support

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hate
• despise
• dislike
• detest
• disdain
• abhor
• loathe
• abominate
• put down
• disparage
• deprecate
• belittle
• misprize

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb worship differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of worship are adore, reverence, revere, and venerate. While all these words mean "to honor and admire profoundly and respectfully," worship implies homage usually expressed in words or ceremony.

worships their memory

In what contexts can adore take the place of worship?

The synonyms adore and worship 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 worship?

In some situations, the words revere and worship are roughly equivalent. However, revere stresses deference and tenderness of feeling.

a professor revered by her students

When could reverence be used to replace worship?

The words reverence and worship can be used in similar contexts, but 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

When is venerate a more appropriate choice than worship?

While the synonyms venerate and worship are close in meaning, venerate implies a holding as holy or sacrosanct because of character, association, or age.

heroes still venerated

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of worship

Noun

During that week, Flynn’s mistress Alleigha Botner, 24, a worship leader at the same Tipp City church as Flynn, read from more than 100,000 text messages between herself and Flynn, some of which indicated Flynn’s murderous intentions. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2026

The group’s album So Be It (Live) is nominated for worship album of the year. — Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 29 Sep. 2026

Verb

The species' non-linear approach to time, coupled with a penchant for making giant space vortices their home, suggests they're closely related to the wormhole aliens, aka Prophets, worshipped by the Bajorans. — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 24 Sep. 2026

French officials and many educators say secularism in public schools and other institutions protects less observant and nonreligious people from pressure while leaving everyone free to worship in private. — ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing worship

• hero worship