WORSHIP Synonyms: 119 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

worship 1 of 2

noun

Definition of worship

as in adoration

excessive admiration of or devotion to a person the worship of professional athletes who often turn out to be all too fallible

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worship

2 of 2

verb

ˈwər-shəp

as in to venerate

to offer honor or respect to (someone) as a divine power the ancient Greeks worshipped many different gods

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as in to love

to feel passion, devotion, or tenderness for the new father worships his baby daughter, and would do anything for her

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as in to adore

to love or admire too much thought that some of her fellow senior citizens worshipped the old days too much, observing that they weren't all good

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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

The crowd’s comments prompted a statement by the board that the property’s longtime zoning allows for houses of worship. — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 25 Aug. 2026 Hamilton said his sermons are in line with beliefs held by the Catholic Church, mainline Christian faiths and some evangelical houses of worship. — Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2026

Verb

The church elder had worshiped in the building for more than 30 years. — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026 This meant unofficial gods—including those of the Jews, Syrians, and later Christians—could be worshipped there. — Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for worship

Recent Examples of Synonyms for worship

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

Verb

Other venerated South Side joints included Pepper’s Lounge, the Dew Drop Inn, and Theresa’s Lounge, the latter of which was tucked away in the basement of an apartment building.

— René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026
Not asked enough by those who venerated Graham is why in death the patriot’s name must be associated with what’s so inimical to American prosperity and freedom.

— John Tamny, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of venerate

Noun

With wide sidewalks and a friendly park sandwiched in the middle, this is the city’s best stroll for window shopping, people watching, and sun worshiping.

— Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 10 June 2026
By the nail holes above and beside the worshiping altar, the household hung garlands.

— Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 14 Feb. 2026

Definition of worshipping

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

Definition of reverence

Verb

Right now the only person who likes Heather is Carmella, and that’s because Heather is throwing some work Carmella’s way and trying to find a law school apartment for her daughter Cat.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Nvidia reported blowout financial results on Wednesday , giving Wall Street analysts even more reasons to like its stock.

— Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026

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

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Synonyms of worship

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verb

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Synonyms of worship

noun

verb

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More from Merriam-Webster on worship

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