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.

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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 One modern version of this veneration is the selfie, often taken at the signposts marking the Continental Divide. — Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 11 May 2026 The target of his satire is not just the wealthy, castle-dwelling Jo Stoyte, clearly modeled on Hearst, but American society writ large, with its trashy consumerism and childish veneration of riches. — Literary Hub, 21 May 2026 Some dismiss Ryan's talkier stretches as Greatest Generation veneration. — Chris Nashawaty, Entertainment Weekly, 13 June 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for veneration
Recent Examples of Synonyms for veneration
  1. reverence
  2. adoration
  3. worship
Noun
  • Deacon Michael Pindelski led the church in prayer prior to allowing people to approach the relic with reverence and spend time praying and reflecting.
    — Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026
  • Friedland describes the ritual with the mixture of reverence and annoyance that marks many of his best observations.
    — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 29 June 2026
Definition of reverence
Noun
  • Marylanders showed their adoration by naming Montgomery County for him.
    — Sarah M.S. Pearsall, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
  • Meanwhile, since the Scaloni era’s unprecedented winning streak, Argentineans’ adoration of Messi has, at last, become unconditional.
    — Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 27 June 2026
Definition of adoration
Noun
  • Historically, the Catholic Church had denied religious funerals inside its houses of worship as well as traditional burials for those who died in this way.
    — Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • Nearby are the Druidical worship sites of Avebury and Stonehenge; there is a Celtic burial ground hidden in one of Ashcombe's deep, romantic coombes.
    — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 5 July 2026
Definition of worship

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Cite this Entry

“Veneration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/veneration. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on veneration

Nglish: Translation of veneration for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about veneration

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