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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of reverential
After receiving the Living Legend Award from a reverential, cigarette-smoking Bono, Sinatra, who choked up immediately, launched into an acceptance speech dotted with humorous anecdotes and pauses.
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Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 26 Jan. 2025
Some of the press has called me negatively reverential to Maria Callas.
—Beatrice Verhoeven, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Nov. 2024
Add in the implicit expectation that players should be respectful and reverential to their forebears, and Raducanu’s apparent indifference to Murray’s achievements jarred in a sport where the standard practice is to big up those who went before.
—Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 24 Aug. 2024
The most famous trial lawyer of his time, Clarence Darrow inspired reverential biographies, stage plays and performances from some of the 20th century’s greatest actors.
—Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for reverential
Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 26 Jan. 2025
Some of the press has called me negatively reverential to Maria Callas.
—Beatrice Verhoeven, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Nov. 2024
Add in the implicit expectation that players should be respectful and reverential to their forebears, and Raducanu’s apparent indifference to Murray’s achievements jarred in a sport where the standard practice is to big up those who went before.
—Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 24 Aug. 2024
The most famous trial lawyer of his time, Clarence Darrow inspired reverential biographies, stage plays and performances from some of the 20th century’s greatest actors.
—Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for reverential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reverential
Adjective
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The grieving sisters try to uncover the truth about what happened to Grace, and increasingly suspect Roger’s pious, overbearing sister Angelica (Fiona Shaw) of wrongdoing — but turn out to be (mostly) wrong about her intentions.—
Meredith Blake,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Dec. 2024
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Advertisement Nazanin goes through the same preparations as Salme, who has turned supremely pious in the intervening years, and Zari, who has grown more level-headed, not to say jaded.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The whole montage was respectful and gracious, with a classical score, rather than a pop chipmunk warbling a sensitive ballad about dead people.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
3 Mar. 2025
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There have also been plenty of playful florals, statement silhouettes and men’s brooches, though the devastation caused by LA’s wildfires has precipitated a noticeably more respectful, restrained approach.—
Taylor Nicioli,
CNN,
2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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From Ben Affleck to Seth Rogen, Hollywood finds a ‘spiritual home’ at SXSW.—
Ryan Fonseca,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2025
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Alcantara was quite spiritual and often ministered at the church.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Inherent in writing is a reverent mystique, untapped by AI’s predictive interpretation.—
Elizabeth Brown,
Hartford Courant,
28 Feb. 2025
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The Sixteen The Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, October 26 Part of Miller Theatre’s early-music series, the English vocal ensemble performs reverent music old and recent by William Byrd and Arvo Pärt.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
30 Aug. 2024
Adjective
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Take time to renew your spiritual or religious beliefs.—
Georgia Nicols,
The Denver Post,
4 Mar. 2025
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Accommodations for religious observances, like Ramadan, have been impacted as well.—
Lauren Mascarenhas,
CNN,
4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Her chef and housekeeper, Bruna (Alba Rohrwacher), is timid and worshipful but able to take quietly decisive action when necessary.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
25 Nov. 2024
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In a country given to worshipful talk of Founding Fathers, this is not a new subject on the political stage.—
Molly Fischer,
The New Yorker,
1 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Reverential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reverential. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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