veneration

noun

Definition of venerationnext
as in reverence
a feeling or act of great respect, admiration, or devotion Holy relics are often objects of veneration. They regarded the surrealist painters of the 20th century avant-garde movement with great veneration.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 veneration Hawthorne may have been inspired to write it by the 1826 celebration of the American jubilee, which was marked by veneration of the Founding Fathers and rosy mythmaking about the Revolution. — John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 15 June 2026 Some dismiss Ryan's talkier stretches as Greatest Generation veneration. — Chris Nashawaty, Entertainment Weekly, 13 June 2026 The devotion is often combined with veneration of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. — ABC News, 10 June 2026 The star has been the butt of too many mean jokes, the object of veneration and a muse for film and literary retellings that have elevated her into the realm of myth. — Daniel D'addario, Variety, 1 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for veneration
Recent Examples of Synonyms for veneration
  1. reverence
  2. adoration
  3. worship
Noun
  • In the aftermath of Panettiere’s death, Klitschko shared his reverence for his former fiancée, whom he was engaged to from 2013 to 2018.
    — Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Palmer himself paced the room on a phone call, doling out smiles of encouragement and inspiring a hushed reverence in his wake.
    — Colleen McNally Arnett, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of reverence
Noun
  • Sabrina is no Dolly, which isn’t a knock but a comment on the impossibility of any new artist ever enjoying the level of admiration and adoration that Parton did for most of her life.
    — David Kamp, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026
  • So Big Part of what made Dolly exceptional was her broad appeal and universal adoration.
    — Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of adoration
Noun
  • Thus polytheistic worship of deities and monist philosophy are not opposed but rather different ways of reaching the divine.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Still, a moment for a little Dolly-worship seems somehow appropriate.
    — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of worship

Browse Nearby Words

venerating
veneration
venerations
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Veneration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/veneration. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on veneration

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about veneration

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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of dissonant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All