Reverence and veneration are less overwhelming than awe or dread, and suggest something of esteem, affection, and personal nearness. Veneration is commonly applied to things which are not subjects of awe.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

respect Respect of the young for the old is quite natural.
esteem Why do so many people suffer from low self-esteem?
awe Mary is a woman who inspires awe in all who meet her.
reverence I felt profound reverence for the courageous mother.
devotion The senator avowed his devotion to his constituents.
adoration What's the difference between love and adoration?

Popularity over time

Word	1850 → 2019	Trend
veneration		rising
respect		falling
esteem		rising
awe		rising
reverence		rising
devotion		steady

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

3 letters: awe¹
4 letters: fear¹, fere, feer
5 letters: honor²
6 letters: honour², esteem², homage²
7 letters: respect², worship², cultism
8 letters: devotion³
9 letters: reverence³, adoration⁴, deference³
10 letters: admiration⁴

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (honor² = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français: vénération
Italiano: venerazione
Español: veneración
Deutsch: Verehrung