Venerate vs Defame - What's the difference?

As verbs the difference between venerate and defame

is that venerate is to treat with great respect and deference while defame is to harm or diminish the reputation of.

(venerat)

To treat with great respect and deference.

To revere or hold in awe.

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(defam)

To harm or diminish the reputation of.

to defame somebody

To render infamous; to bring into disrepute.

* Dryden

My guilt thy growing virtues did defame ; / My blackness blotted thy unblemish'd name.

To publish a libel about.

(archaic) To charge; to accuse.

* Rebecca is defamed of sorcery practised on the person of a noble knight.

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