VENERABLE Synonyms: 118 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

venerable

adjective

ˈve-nər(-ə)-bəl

Definition of venerable next

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

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

Examples 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 On Wednesday, the venerable upstart (DuckDuckGo has been pitching itself as a privacy-first Google rival for 14 years now) called on the European Commission to launch three new investigations against Google for allegedly violating the new Digital Markets Act, a tough Big Tech antitrust law. —

Byandrew Nusca, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2024 Photoshop still includes the venerable Lasso, Magic Wand, and Marquee, as well as the Object and Quick selection tools (with their cool Subject Select checkbox). —

PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024 At Baur au Lac, Zurich's grandest hotel, contemporary art has been installed behind the reception, the wood panelling spruced up and its venerable newsstand removed. —

Bill Prince, theweek, 7 Nov. 2024 The Rule of 3's latest event, Newton County Mentality, took place in and around Horseshoe Canyon Ranch this past weekend as well as the venerable Beast of Burden endurance race to raise money to help maintain the trails at Kessler Mountain... Already a subscriber? —

Kai Caddy Nwa Media, arkansasonline.com, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for venerable

Recent Examples of Synonyms for venerable

Adjective

This culinary adventure includes ancient cooking methods that lead to soulful cuisine and an environment that captures the excitement of Tel Aviv and Miami.

Melinda Sheckells, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Nov. 2024
All three are living together, briefly, in a Lower East Side condo to wait at their dad’s deathbed, bickering over groceries and reopening ancient familial wounds.

Rachel Handler, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024