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

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

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 Nineteen African fests have already signed on, among them Burkina Faso’s venerable FESPACO — the oldest film festival in sub-Saharan Africa — the Durban Intl. — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026 Ben’Imana premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes, marking the first time a film from Rwanda screened in the venerable fest’s official selection. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026 As for the plane in question, this is a variant of the venerable F-16 and is a heavily modernized version featuring, among other features, APG-83 Active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026 The Starliner has relied on United Launch Alliance's Atlas 5 rockets for the ride to space, but only a half dozen of the venerable boosters remain in ULA's inventory. — William Harwood, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for venerable

Recent Examples of Synonyms for venerable

Adjective

Word of her ouster leaked before the executive had the chance to address most of her internal teams — an announcement dovetailed with news of her incoming replacement, the venerated film and TV executive Peter Rice.

— Matt Donnelly, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
The venerated Oscar-winning, 88-year-old actress and activist wore a long-sleeve maxidress with twisted fabric at the base of the neckline and allover sparkle embellished into the fabric.

— Julia Teti, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of venerated

Adjective

Even the climbing-vine wallpaper is yellowed, as if gradually discolored by the cigarettes of a thousand ancient Sundays.

— Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026
Madrid sits on an ancient migration route that has always been part of a vast grid of farming paths covering the Iberian Peninsula.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of ancient

Adjective

With a career spanning 60 years, James Gibson was a revered Tennessee teacher and sculptor.

— The Editors of ARTnews, ARTnews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
This time, Zaki was building a character from the life of one of the Arab world’s most revered cultural figures, with decades of history and public memory with which to contend.

— Essie Assibu, Variety, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of revered

Adjective

An album-length EP by the 20-year-old producer is a dizzying and boundless collage of collages, using free-jazz logic and digital overload to chart new emotional terrain.

— Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 26 Oct. 2026
Rodrigo Valentim, a 51-year-old businessman and supporter of Bolsonaro, said another Lula government would harm the economy.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of old

Adjective

The Chiefs have beaten a Denver Broncos team that was still finding its footing, the 2-4 Indianapolis Colts, the winless Miami Dolphins, a respectable Raiders squad and the 0-6 Chargers.

— Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026
For 26 years, Ecuador has remained immune from the plague of a currency crisis and has sustained respectable economic growth, low inflation, and surging exports.

— Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of respectable

Adjective

The territories at various times have been part of the Russian and Ottoman empires, medieval Kievan Rus’ and earlier civilizations.

— Catherine Belton, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
The time period is vaguely medieval and the accents British, save for Skarsgård, who speaks in a flat, neutral exhale, the sound of breeze riffling through straw.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of medieval

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venerable

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“Venerable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/venerable. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of venerable

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