reverential
adjective
rev·er·en·tial ˌre-və-ˈren(t)-shəl 
1
: expressing or having a quality of reverence
reverential awe
2
: inspiring reverence
reverentially
ˌre-və-ˈren(t)-sh(ə-)lē
adverb 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The flock was largely reverential, with only a few non-believers leaving the cinema. 
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 Sep. 2022 Many people cheered while others watched in reverential silence. Craig Schneider, ajc, 21 Aug. 2017 His movies felt both reverential and separate, singular, enjoyed apart from the books. Lauren Puckett-pope, ELLE, 2 Sep. 2022 The gospel aesthetic contributed greatly to the reverential air the Opry would give, and still gives, to country music. Fox News, 2 Sep. 2022 Among them were artists, intellectuals, and social theorists for whom the words free and new had achieved a reverential status. Vivian Gornick, The New York Review of Books, 3 Aug. 2022 Still, his description of private equity investors raises an obvious question about why thumbsuckers in media and politics aren’t more reverential toward them. John Tamny, Forbes, 6 July 2022 For most of the 20th century, historians and biographers adopted a reverential tone toward the American Founders. Barton Swaim, WSJ, 24 May 2022 The Daniels explained the film's music and sound must be both reverential to various artists and genres, as the movie is to various film types, and unique. Rory Appleton, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Apr. 2022 See More
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 Sep. 2022 Many people cheered while others watched in reverential silence. Craig Schneider, ajc, 21 Aug. 2017 His movies felt both reverential and separate, singular, enjoyed apart from the books. Lauren Puckett-pope, ELLE, 2 Sep. 2022 The gospel aesthetic contributed greatly to the reverential air the Opry would give, and still gives, to country music. Fox News, 2 Sep. 2022 Among them were artists, intellectuals, and social theorists for whom the words free and new had achieved a reverential status. Vivian Gornick, The New York Review of Books, 3 Aug. 2022 Still, his description of private equity investors raises an obvious question about why thumbsuckers in media and politics aren’t more reverential toward them. John Tamny, Forbes, 6 July 2022 For most of the 20th century, historians and biographers adopted a reverential tone toward the American Founders. Barton Swaim, WSJ, 24 May 2022 The Daniels explained the film's music and sound must be both reverential to various artists and genres, as the movie is to various film types, and unique. Rory Appleton, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Medieval Latin reverentiālis, from Latin reverentia reverence entry 1 + -ālis -al entry 1
First Known Use
circa 1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1
reverential
adjective
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
Relevance
- pious
- respectful
- reverent
- spiritual
- worshipful
- religious
- holy
- ascetic
- deferential
- prayerful
- devout
- saintly
- dutiful
- blest
- godly
- sainted
- ascetical
- regardful
- moral
- pietistic
- deferent
- chaste
- religiose
- venerable
- virtuous
- canonized
- beatified
- angelic
- angelical
- blessed
- cherubic
- pure
- upright
- righteous
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- irreverent
- blasphemous
- profane
- sacrilegious
- insolent
- rude
- discourteous
- uncivil
- disrespectful
- desecrating
- undutiful
- profanatory