1
as in consecration
the act of making something holy through religious ritual
the sacred site required another sanctification after it had been defiled by the invaders
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in purification
the act or fact of freeing from sin or moral guilt
the Christian belief that the suffering and death of Jesus was responsible for the sanctification of all humankind
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sanctification
The sanctification of Lee and other Confederate leaders, in turn, pushed the complexities of the surrender and of the Civil War era into the shadows, allowing the myth of Appomattox to flourish for more than a century.
—
Made By History, Time, 9 Apr. 2025
The underlying problem with the West, Mishra argues, is its sanctification of the Holocaust.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2025
The result is that liberal analysts prefer the sanctification of allies and the demonization of rivals to objective and informed analysis.
—Anatol Lieven, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
But if her death allows for her sanctification, the film doesn’t quite know how to represent her life.
—Alessa Dominguez, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2024
But Ii her death allows for her sanctification, the film doesn’t quite know how to represent her life.
—Alessa Dominguez, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2024
This sanctification was a crucial step in including medicine as its own advanced degree program at the first universities that were established around 1200 in Europe.
—Meg Leja, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Nov. 2023
Doing so is not a violation but a sanctification of Shabbat.
—Rabbi Avi Weiss, sun-sentinel.com, 7 Sep. 2021
There is so much sanctification that goes on in the wake of somebody’s death where people want to put him on a pedestal.
—Chris Lee, Vulture, 15 July 2021
Made By History, Time, 9 Apr. 2025
The underlying problem with the West, Mishra argues, is its sanctification of the Holocaust.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2025
The result is that liberal analysts prefer the sanctification of allies and the demonization of rivals to objective and informed analysis.
—Anatol Lieven, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
But if her death allows for her sanctification, the film doesn’t quite know how to represent her life.
—Alessa Dominguez, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2024
But Ii her death allows for her sanctification, the film doesn’t quite know how to represent her life.
—Alessa Dominguez, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2024
This sanctification was a crucial step in including medicine as its own advanced degree program at the first universities that were established around 1200 in Europe.
—Meg Leja, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Nov. 2023
Doing so is not a violation but a sanctification of Shabbat.
—Rabbi Avi Weiss, sun-sentinel.com, 7 Sep. 2021
There is so much sanctification that goes on in the wake of somebody’s death where people want to put him on a pedestal.
—Chris Lee, Vulture, 15 July 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanctification
Noun
-
Cannes could now signal Spain’s French consecration.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
14 May 2025
-
The issue came to a head just before the conclave that elected Leo pope this month, when the Chinese church proceeded with the preliminary election of two bishops, a step that comes before official consecration.—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
25 May 2025
Noun
-
Many also smear volcanic clay on their faces and bodies, a ritual of purification and spiritual resolve.—
Zia ur-Rehman Asim Hafeez,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
-
But in the lab, those cells go through an intense purification process to ensure no human DNA is transferred into vaccines.—
Erika Edwards,
NBC news,
23 May 2025
Noun
-
Teaming up with Rebels like the enigmatic Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and the sarcastic droid K-2SO (Alan Tudyk), Jyn’s quest for salvation and redemption runs right up to the beginning of the original film, Star Wars: A New Hope.—
Mekishana Pierre,
EW.com,
26 June 2025
-
Netflix’s Devil May Cry follows Dante (Johnny Yong Bosch), a young demon hunter who turns out to be the world’s best hope for salvation when a mysterious villain threatens to open the gates of Hell.—
Ryan Fleming,
Deadline,
18 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sanctification.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sanctification. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share