worship 1 of 2

Definition of worshipnext

worship

2 of 2

verb

1
2
3

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

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 worship
Noun
People seated together in worship, imperfectly aligned but present. Philip Martin, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026 Events across the region are taking place all day at schools, local businesses, houses of worship and burned down local landmarks in various stages of rebuilding. David Wilson, Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
As their youngest uncle, Turner’s nieces and nephews worshiped him. Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2026 Filmed aboard an operational replica of an actual 18th-century ship, the Götheborg of Sweden, the sequence sees Lee and her congregation worshipping through movement daily on the ship’s deck, rain or shine. Marya E. Gates, IndieWire, 26 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for worship
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worship
Noun
  • In reality, Lawrence and Stone are longtime friends (and future collaborators) who haven't been shy about voicing their adoration for one another.
    Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Jerry adoration of football is well documented, almost as much as his first true love — money.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • And, online, there has been a never-ending stream of posts venerating Kirk as a martyr who died defending white Christian values.
    Ryan Broderick, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2025
  • 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
Verb
  • Everyone loves a redemption arc, but Legette can’t take away playing time from other developing weapons like Brycen Tremayne and Jimmy Horn Jr.
    Mike Kaye Updated January 13, Charlotte Observer, 13 Jan. 2026
  • Kick off the new year in comfort while the customer-loved Allswifit Slip-On Walking Shoes are on sale at Amazon.
    Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Still, their esoteric acid rock was revered and adored by their huge and loyal fanbase, known as Deadheads.
    Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Jan. 2026
  • Leave it to a Housewife to find an adoring gay to glom on to.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Some might be inclined to label Lee as an early cult leader, with her extreme views on sexuality, somatic-style worshipping rituals rooted in dance and song as well as her desire to build a self-sufficient, utopian community outside of mainstream society.
    Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 25 Dec. 2025
  • Destroy this death worshipping, terroristic cult.
    Jolene Almendarez, The Enquirer, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Written with the intimacy of a conversation among loved ones, Someday, Now invites readers to sit with loss while still reverencing the beauty of life, parenting, and letting our children flourish.
    Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 9 Oct. 2025
  • 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
Verb
  • For solo travelers or anyone who likes an extra layer of security, these personal safety devices are practical, compact, and easy to use.
    Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 15 Jan. 2026
  • The Bears held just a walkthrough on Wednesday, surely with no heaters on the sideline, which is apparently the way Ben Johnson likes it.
    Matt Zahn, CBS News, 15 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • But the Turkish big man is also representative of a more meaningful trend, which was on display again this week, even before the Nuggets visited Houston — a recent proliferation of Jokic idolatry throughout the sport.
    Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 21 Nov. 2025
  • In the Bible, Egypt occupies a central place, mentioned repeatedly as a land of refuge – notably for Joseph – but also as a nation of idolatry and as the cradle of slavery.
    Charles Vanthournout, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Worship.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worship. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on worship

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!