VENERATE Synonyms: 47 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

venerate

verb

ˈve-nə-ˌrāt

Definition of venerate next

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 Lammy venerates Ernest Bevin, another working-class Labour politician, who became Britain’s Foreign Secretary in the last weeks of the Second World War. —

Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025 The combination venerates the natural world more than arguably any other culture. —

By Charlie Campbell/gelephu, Bhutan, TIME, 16 Jan. 2025 Here’s what to know about the festival: A religious gathering at the confluence of three sacred rivers Hindus venerate rivers, and none more so than the Ganges and the Yamuna. —

Fox News, 13 Jan. 2025 Here’s what to know about the festival: A religious gathering at confluence of 3 rivers Hindus venerate rivers, and none more so than the Ganges and the Yamuna. —

Sheikh Saaliq, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for venerate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for venerate

Verb

Beth is the director of prayer and worship life at The Upper Room and dean of The Upper Room Chapel.

— Judy Holmes, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025
This was the end of DreamWorks Animation’s biblical adaptations, before the company began to worship new gods like Shrek, Trolls, and the Penguins of Madagascar.

— James Grebey, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025