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

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 Those stationed in the venerable building endured mold, general despair and a 2020 fire. — Ross Guidotti, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026 The venerable company Sea Doo had just announced a new version of its popular Spark model, this one with an X after it. — Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026 Its name was inspired by the New York hotel, deemed venerable enough to give the new outfit some heft, and its first swing at a leveraged buyout was for Chi-Chi’s, the Mexican restaurant chain, in 1987. — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 20 Aug. 2026 In District 23, venerable Democrat Lois Frankel will face Republican Deborah Adeimy. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for venerable

Recent Examples of Synonyms for venerable

Adjective

The site remains a venerated Buddhist shrine used for local worship.

— Jack Tydeman, Travel + Leisure, 26 July 2026
On the night of June 15, a Russian drone directly hit the most venerated site for Ukraine’s majority Orthodox Christians, and indeed for much of Eastern Christendom.

— The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 26 June 2026

Definition of venerated

Adjective

After becoming a daily fixture in the 1990s, blackouts have worsened since 2024, when Cuba’s ancient power grid began to collapse and Soviet-era electrical stations began failing more frequently.

— Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026
Its towering basalt cliffs formed as ancient volcanic rock cooled and fractured.

— Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of ancient

Adjective

With a career spanning more than 60 years, Parton has been one of country music’s leading lights, one of the genre’s most revered and prolific songwriters.

— Lars Brandle, Billboard, 26 Aug. 2026
As the most honored and revered female country singer-songwriter of all time, Dolly Parton has influenced music beyond her own genre.

— Kelsie Gibson, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of revered

Adjective

Nuclear Children follows 18-year-old Isla Sparrow who, after the death of her father in a submarine accident, hopes to escape her grieving family and flee to university.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
But in older adults, the relationship between body weight and health may be more complicated than a number on the scale.

— Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of old

Adjective

Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma sent a set of antique jewels from the grand ducal family to the Parisian jewelry house.

— Giorgia Olivieri, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026
Taylor’s fourth husband was responsible for many of her most famous baubles, including an antique diamond tiara and a Cartier ruby and diamond suite.

— Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of antique

Adjective

Brede Hovland of Norway’s Einar Film, who stepped in for producer Guri Neby on the panel, said the Norwegian shoot wrapped at the end of May after six-to-seven weeks in Oslo, with production now in Prague for the medieval and fantasy material.

— Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026
Start your day with a lakeside walk, then visit Meersburg Castle, the town’s medieval fortress, before heading to the New Castle (Neues Schloss), a Baroque palace perched above the lake, for panoramic views.

— Sofia Markovich, Travel + Leisure, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of medieval

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veneers

venerable

venerableness

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“Venerable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/venerable. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of venerable

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