Venerable is an adjective that describes someone or something that is deeply respectedadmired and valued by other people, or something that has earned respect because of great age. The word is often used for people, institutionsorganizations or established systems that serve a public purpose, and long-establishedexisting for a very long time and widely accepted traditions.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈvɛnərəbəl/
Easy pronunciation: VEN-uh-ruh-buhl (approximate spelling).
Stress: Primary stress on the first syllable.
Used here in the sense of profoundly honored; deeply respected.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Venerable Meaning
highly respected and admired
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: profoundly honored; deeply respected
Example: The professor was a venerable scholar with a long and distinguished career.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- revered — A direct substitute when the sense is deeply respected.
- august — Works in formal writing, but is less common in everyday speech.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Venerable
Meaning 2
old in a way that makes it admirable or impressive
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: impressive by reason of age
Example: a venerable sage with white hair and beard
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Venerable Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- revered
- august
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes use venerable to mean simply 'old,' but it usually suggests age that deserves respect.
- Do not confuse venerable with similar-looking words that mean 'dangerous' or 'respectful' in a different way.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does venerable mean?
Venerable means deeply respected, or old enough to seem admirable and distinguished.
What is a good synonym for venerable?
Revered is the strongest everyday synonym when venerable means deeply respected.
Can venerable describe things, not just people?
Yes. It can describe institutions, traditions, buildings, or objects that are respected because they are old or long established.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
