venerable

adjective

ˈve-nər(-ə)-bəl How to pronounce venerable (audio)
Definition of venerablenext
1
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
2
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 Mehcad Brooks is departing NBC’s Law & Order after three seasons as Detective Jalen Shaw ahead of the venerable crime drama’s upcoming 25th season, Deadline has learned. —Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 18 July 2025 The other, the Union Station Gallery in the venerable train station’s Grand Hall, will operate July 13-26. —Dan Kelly july 11, Kansas City Star, 11 July 2025 Another cocktail with island connections is the rum swizzle, invented in the venerable Swizzle Inn, where the ceiling is hung with thousands of business cards and dollar bills left by departing patrons. —Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 8 July 2025 Another legacy brand is the venerable Cunard (No. 2), with its traditional White Star service, ballrooms where real dress-up balls take place, and regular roster of transatlantic voyages. —Fran Golden, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for venerable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for venerable
  1. ancient
  2. revered
  3. old
  4. respectable
  5. antique
  6. medieval
Adjective
  • To Win Or Not To Win Is Not The Only Question Once AI was a philosophical question – one that religious and spiritual thinkers from ancient cultures asked to better understand the laws of nature.
    — Pia Lauritzen, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
  • However, Thailand does not recognize the ICJ’s jurisdiction and claims that some areas along the border were never fully demarcated, including the sites of several ancient temples.
    — Helen Regan, CNN Money, 24 July 2025
Definition of ancient
Adjective
  • Nichols and Matteson began working together in December 2019, and Nichols signed a deal with revered blues label Fat Possum Records in early 2020.
    — Piet Levy, jsonline.com, 15 July 2025
  • Grateful Dead historian and counterculture author Dennis McNally points out that Marshall’s bad boy reputation does nothing to diminish his legacy as one of music’s most revered photographers.
    — Paul Liberatore, Mercury News, 11 July 2025
Definition of revered
Adjective
  • Finally, came from an unexpected source: the tiny, stone Presbyterian church that is one of the few surviving structures of the old Fort McDowell.
    — Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 24 July 2025
  • Delaying tree harvests and protecting older forests enhances carbon sequestration, making untouched forests vital for reducing carbon dioxide and combating climate change.
    — Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 24 July 2025
Definition of old
Adjective
  • Reeling from scandals in the 1870s, baseball’s owners consciously sought to make the sport respectable by broadening its upper- and middle-class fan-base.
    — Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 23 July 2025
  • Despite that streak ending, Swag had a more than respectable opening, debuting with 163,000 overall units on 198.77 million streams, per Billboard.
    — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 20 July 2025
Definition of respectable
Adjective
  • Just off the sand, antique shops and farm stands along the streets of Southampton give it a small-town feel.
    — AFAR Media, AFAR Media, 14 July 2025
  • This artsy, walkable stretch of downtown is full of boutiques, antique shops, and art galleries, each one worth poking around in.
    — Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 13 July 2025
Definition of antique
Adjective
  • During early October’s harvest, when golden Chasselas grapes are at their plump and juicy peak, explore medieval villages and 10th-century stone walls on foot, like on a 6.8-mile hike from St. Saphorin to Lutry, and visit cellars aboard the Lavaux Express train.
    — AFAR Media, AFAR Media, 18 July 2025
  • Parts of the village date back to medieval times, and the Fort de Tamié, a 19th-century fortress above Albertville, now features zip lines that crisscross hiking trails with levels suitable for all the family to enjoy.
    — Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
Definition of medieval

Browse Nearby Words

veneers
venerable
venerableness
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Cite this Entry

“Venerable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/venerable. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on venerable

Nglish: Translation of venerable for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about venerable

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