rit·u·al·ism
ˈri-chə-wə-ˌli-zəm 
-chə-ˌli-;
ˈrich-wə-
1
: the use of ritual
2
: excessive devotion to ritual
plural -s
1
: one skilled in or attached to a ritual : one who studies ritual
2
a
: one who advocates or practices the increased use of religious ritual especially to an extent often deemed excessive by others
b
usually capitalized
: a member of the High Church party in the Anglican communion
3
: one rigidly conforming to established procedures or institutional norms
the syndrome of the social ritualist—
R. K. Merton
R. K. Mertonlike a trout fisherman he is a fanatical ritualist—Bernard DeVoto
Bernard DeVotoExamples of ritualism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 12 Sep. 2025
Flying the Flag of England, the village emphasizes ritualism, isolationism, and masculinity through archery.
—Richard Newby, HollywoodReporter, 23 June 2025
But the players also hinted at something less tangible, some swirl of selfhood and ritualism and sense memory, that week after week lured them back to the ice.
—Andrew Keh Bryan Meltz, New York Times, 24 July 2023
The anti-ritualism of the modern mind suspects that there always is a dichotomy between the outward appearance and the inward reality.
—Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 9 Mar. 2022
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Noun
The music video pairs tribal ritualism with coastal dreaminess, leading viewers through a cabin lit by candlelight and a beach after sunset.
—Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 12 Sep. 2025
Flying the Flag of England, the village emphasizes ritualism, isolationism, and masculinity through archery.
—Richard Newby, HollywoodReporter, 23 June 2025
But the players also hinted at something less tangible, some swirl of selfhood and ritualism and sense memory, that week after week lured them back to the ice.
—Andrew Keh Bryan Meltz, New York Times, 24 July 2023
The anti-ritualism of the modern mind suspects that there always is a dichotomy between the outward appearance and the inward reality.
—Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 9 Mar. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Ritualism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ritualism. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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