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 next

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 Audio-Technica, the venerable Japanese audio brand, has announced two new pairs of professional open-back reference headphones designed for mixing, mastering or creating music. —

Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025 As the festival continues to weigh options for possible new host cities — including Cincinnati, Salt Lake City, and Boulder — starting in 2027, everyone is curious where the venerable festival will find itself in just 24 months. —

Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 23 Jan. 2025 As Black pitchers are modestly represented in the venerable plaque gallery, most of their enshrinements have come through various iterations of the Veterans Committee and two Special Committees on the Negro Leagues. —

Wayne G. McDonnell, Jr., Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025 Haunted Mansion at 50: Decades of delays and distractions nearly derailed Disneyland’s venerable dark ride The old Black Widow Bride, known as Constance Hatchway, showed up in wedding portraits with a series of husbands who lost their heads in the Haunted Mansion attic scene. —

Brady MacDonald, Orange County Register, 18 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for venerable

Recent Examples of Synonyms for venerable

Adjective

Designed with geometric forms that evoke the pyramids in the backdrop, the museum invites visitors to journey through ancient Egypt’s 3,000-year history, starting with the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt around 3100 B.C. and ending with the Roman conquest in 30 B.C.

— Kate McMahon, Travel + Leisure, 25 Jan. 2025
In it, a fantastical ancient Asian Empire is on the verge of destruction, torn apart by insidious rivalry.

— Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 22 Jan. 2025