as in pious
formal
showing or having a lot of respect
a reverential attitude They spoke in reverential terms about their recently departed spiritual advisor.
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Recent Examples of reverential
The opening-week success of the younger-skewing Predator: Badlands offers hope, and though his film doesn’t quite go as agreeably haywire as Ari Aster’s Eddington, Wright is working in a similarly ambitious, contemporary-retro style that’s reverential without being the slightest bit nostalgic.
—
Damon Wise, Deadline, 11 Nov. 2025
There are also occasional flashes of Sharon Van Etten’s early 2010s albums, and producer Adam Schatz (of Landlady, who has also worked with Japanese Breakfast and Neko Case) has created a perfect setting for the songs that evokes the ’70s influences without being overly reverential.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
Maggie shows reverential awe for Alma, who carries the same regard for her student whilst having a nepotistic bond with Hank.
—Essence, 15 Oct. 2025
This is a different era, one less reverential of spiritual authority.
—D. T. Max, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reverential
Damon Wise, Deadline, 11 Nov. 2025
There are also occasional flashes of Sharon Van Etten’s early 2010s albums, and producer Adam Schatz (of Landlady, who has also worked with Japanese Breakfast and Neko Case) has created a perfect setting for the songs that evokes the ’70s influences without being overly reverential.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
Maggie shows reverential awe for Alma, who carries the same regard for her student whilst having a nepotistic bond with Hank.
—Essence, 15 Oct. 2025
This is a different era, one less reverential of spiritual authority.
—D. T. Max, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reverential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reverential
Adjective
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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
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There are certain touchstones of life that demand a respectful response.—
Jerry Shnay,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
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The mood was sombre and respectful.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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There is self-regulation going on in the initial stages of spiritual development, and this is where calming does come into play.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
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There’s a spiritual battle going on here.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Those elements, and time spent in the sauna, are meant to create a magical, reverent place that exists between worlds and outside of hierarchies, Argeropoulous said.—
Bridget Fogarty,
jsonline.com,
2 Feb. 2026
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But the campaign against Good is different—because The Homeland takes particular and perverse interest in women deemed insufficiently reverent of hearth and home.—
Ta-Nehisi Coates,
Vanity Fair,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Some religious communities bar menstruating women from common living areas, said Ahsan.—
Sana Noor Haq,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
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The measure would allow some exemptions, including for officers involved in undercover operations and SWAT duties or who are wearing religious garb.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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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
Cite this Entry
“Reverential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reverential. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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