What does "venerable" mean?
A title indicating respect, prefixed to the names of Buddhist monks and nuns.
Venerable
/ˈvɛnəɹəbl/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A title indicating respect, prefixed to the names of Buddhist monks and nuns.
- Grammar: venerable is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: august, revered, acknowledged, admirable.
- Useful contrasts: filthy, children, disrespected.
- Usage evidence: Was there ever a wider or more loving conspiracy than that which keeps the venerable figure of Santa Claus from slipping away, with all the other oldtime myths, into the forsaken wonderland of the past?
How to use "venerable"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "venerable" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "venerable" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "venerable" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "venerable" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "venerable" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "august" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "venerable", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A title indicating respect, prefixed to the names of Buddhist monks and nuns. Singapore
Adjective
- 1 Commanding respect because of age, dignity, character or position.
"Dotcom mania was slow in coming to higher education, but now it has the venerable industry firmly in its grip. Since the launch early last year of Udacity and Coursera, two Silicon Valley start-ups offering free education through MOOCs, massive open online courses, the ivory towers of academia have been shaken to their foundations."
- 2 A form of address for an archdeacon in the Anglican Church.
- 3 Worthy of reverence.
"We looked at the venerable stream not in the vivid flush of a short day that comes and departs for ever, but in the pacific yet august light of abiding memories."
- 4 The description in the Roman Catholic Church of someone in the first stages of canonisation.
- 5 Ancient, antiquated or archaic.
"And then bills were sent in, and the question arose, what could Jude do with his great-aunt's heavy old furniture if he left the town to travel he knew not whither? This, and the necessity of ready money, compelled him to decide on an auction, much as he would have preferred to keep the venerable goods."
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 The description of some saints in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
- 7 Made sacred especially by religious or historical association.
- 8 Giving an impression of aged goodness and benevolence.
Adjective
- 1 profoundly honored wordnet
- 2 impressive by reason of age wordnet
Antonyms
Example
"Was there ever a wider or more loving conspiracy than that which keeps the venerable figure of Santa Claus from slipping away, with all the other oldtime myths, into the forsaken wonderland of the past?"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "venerable"?
Common synonyms include: august, revered, acknowledged, admirable, admitted, advanced.
How do you use "venerable" in a sentence?
Was there ever a wider or more loving conspiracy than that which keeps the venerable figure of Santa Claus from slipping away, with all the other oldtime myths, into the forsaken wonderland of the past?
How do you pronounce "venerable"?
Pronounced /ˈvɛnəɹəbl/.
Etymology
From Middle French vénérable, from Old French, from Latin venerabilis.