awe
Wonder with reverence
Awe is a feeling of reverential wonder mixed with fear or admiration, inspired by something vast, powerful, or sublime: We stood in awe of the mountain.
The word suggests being overwhelmed—rendered small or speechless by what you're witnessing.
To be in awe of someone is to regard them with profound respect.
Awesome originally meant inspiring awe; now it's casual praise for anything good.
Awful once meant the same but shifted to mean very bad.
Awe-inspiring retains the original force.
Astonishing thing or feeling
- astonishmentIntense sudden wonder
- amazementOverwhelming surprise and wonder
- bewildermentState of being baffled
- fascinationIntense absorbed interest
stupefaction · speechless · thunderstruck · breathtaking · magnificent · spectacular · grandeur · majesty
Profound admiring respect
- worshipReligious reverence and praise
- adorationProfound loving regard
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
- sanctityQuality of being inviolable
holiness · sacred · divine · piety · sacredness · spirituality · glorification · prostration
Extreme, overwhelming fear
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- fearsomeCausing intense alarm
- formidableInspiring fear or respect
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
trepidation · apprehension · foreboding · ominous · terrible · trembling · cowering · overwhelming
State of being immense
- infinityUnlimited extent or quantity
- universeComplete system or domain
- celestialOf the sky above
- astronomicalRelating to outer space
immensity · expanse · eternity · sublime · unfathomable · incomprehensible · boundless · limitless
Regard with honor
- esteemFavorable opinion of worth
- deferenceYielding to another's judgment
- homageExpression of deep respect
- tributeOffering of respect
honor · dignity · regard · appreciation · recognition · reverent · exaltation · idolization
marvel
Astonishing thing or feeling
- astonishmentIntense sudden wonder
- amazementOverwhelming surprise and wonder
- bewildermentState of being baffled
fascination · stupefaction · speechless · thunderstruck · breathtaking · magnificent · spectacular · grandeur · majesty · splendor
veneration
Profound admiring respect
sanctity · holiness · sacred · divine · piety · sacredness · spirituality · glorification · prostration · genuflection
terror
Extreme, overwhelming fear
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- fearsomeCausing intense alarm
- formidableInspiring fear or respect
intimidation · trepidation · apprehension · foreboding · ominous · terrible · trembling · cowering · overwhelming · daunting
vastness
State of being immense
astronomical · immensity · expanse · eternity · sublime · unfathomable · incomprehensible · boundless · limitless · galaxies
respect
Regard with honor
- esteemFavorable opinion of worth
- deferenceYielding to another's judgment
- homageExpression of deep respect
tribute · honor · dignity · regard · appreciation · recognition · reverent · exaltation · idolization · hero-worship
- emotionsjoy, anger, fear, sadness, love
- positive regardadmiration, appreciation, esteem, respect, regard
- Humors and Passionspassions, humors, choler, melancholia, phlegm
- Literary Emotionsangst, anguish, sorrow, dread, terror
- mysticismmystic, gnosis, divine union, divine spark, mystical
- Peak experiencesflow state, epiphany, enlightenment, euphoria, ecstasy
aweindifference
Lack of interest
apathy · numbness · unconcern · disinterest · boredom
awecontempt
Disdainful disregard
scorn · disdain · disrespect · irreverence · derision
aweboredom
Weary disinterest from monotony
disinterest · incuriosity · tedium · jadedness · world-weariness
- in aweExperiencing profound wonder
- awesome sauceSlang expressing enthusiastic approval
- shock and aweSwift dominance through firepower
- shocked and awedOverwhelmed by sudden power
- stand in awe
- awe inspiringEvoking profound wonder