as in respectful
formal
showing a lot of respect
a reverent crowd of worshippers They used a reverent tone of voice when speaking about their father.
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Recent Examples of reverent
Censorship played the role of the reverent teacher who developed these skills in Syrian authors who said one thing and meant another.
—
Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
It’s been heartening to see these many reverent tributes to not only Reiner’s good deeds in the arena of social justice, but also to his film work, which has maybe not always been properly appreciated for its breadth and vitality.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 15 Dec. 2025
Mosaic artwork of T’Challa and the Dora Milaje was also presented, creating a beautiful, reverent nod to Wakanda throughout the ship.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 9 Dec. 2025
There's a particular kind of quiet in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park—not silence but reverent hush.
—Natalie Preddie, Travel + Leisure, 24 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reverent
Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
It’s been heartening to see these many reverent tributes to not only Reiner’s good deeds in the arena of social justice, but also to his film work, which has maybe not always been properly appreciated for its breadth and vitality.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 15 Dec. 2025
Mosaic artwork of T’Challa and the Dora Milaje was also presented, creating a beautiful, reverent nod to Wakanda throughout the ship.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 9 Dec. 2025
There's a particular kind of quiet in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park—not silence but reverent hush.
—Natalie Preddie, Travel + Leisure, 24 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reverent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reverent
Adjective
-
There are certain touchstones of life that demand a respectful response.—
Jerry Shnay,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The mood was sombre and respectful.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Essentially worshipful in its view of Lee, the movie never acknowledges that one person drawing so much unbridled admiration is more than a little creepy.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
25 Dec. 2025
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But while his adoration does have an erotic edge to it (see: The Shape of Water), on the whole, his affection for the misshapen and the outcast among us is more worshipful than overtly lusty.—
Katie Rife,
Vulture,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The choice was pragmatic as much as reverential.—
Andy Hazel,
IndieWire,
16 Jan. 2026
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The conversation has turned almost reverential, sometimes even a bit pretentious.—
Tiana Randall,
Forbes.com,
31 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Singh, who would be our local guide, always wore the five traits of a pious Sikh man — uncut hair (symbolizing strength and holiness and topped by the identifying turban), a steel bracelet, wooden comb, sheathed dagger and a baggy undergarment dating back to the Sikhs’ warrior days on horses.—
Norma Meyer,
Oc Register,
4 Feb. 2026
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In the old days, when Muslims had a great civilization, their smart and pious people also got paid for being smart and pious.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Observing an actual Parisian rejecting butter—one of France’s holy trinity of dairy products, along with cheese and crème fraîche—was a window into the new wellness culture seeping into what might have been the world’s last bastion of free-flowing wine and glutinous bread.—
Hannah Seligson,
Vanity Fair,
12 Feb. 2026
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Ramadan is the holiest month in Islam.—
Tony Peterson,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The siblings believed that their mother, a devout Christian, felt them, too.—
Paige Williams,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Mustafa’s 2024 debut album, Dunya—a folk memoir about growing up as a devout Muslim in a violent Toronto housing project as the son of immigrants from Sudan—was wildly acclaimed.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reverent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reverent. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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