ritualistic

adjective

rit·​u·​al·​is·​tic ˌri-chə-wə-ˈli-stik How to pronounce ritualistic (audio)
-chə-ˈli-;
ˌrich-wə-
1
: of, in accordance with, or characterized by the use of ritual: such as
a
: relating to or done as a ceremony or rite
a ritualistic dance
For Rick, the clincher came in 2001, when he discovered 20 identical trumpets, made from a type of conch shell … . The trumpets were highly decorated, indicating a ritualistic use.Michael Brooks
Ritualistic language (such as the oyez, oyez, oyez or hear ye, hear ye, hear ye that opens a court session) separates legal proceedings from ordinary life, marking them as being special and important.Peter Tiersma
b
: done in accordance with social custom or normal protocol
Bush made the ritualistic visits to polling places, making a last-minute bid for support in this intense and important contest.Jeanne Meserve
c
: of, relating to, or being an act or series of acts regularly repeated in a set precise manner
The repetitive nature of online tasks—checking e-mail, searching for data, sending replies—has a soothing, ritualistic quality … .Maia Szalavitz
2
: stressing the use of ritual forms : adhering to or devoted to ritualism
We can look at Stonehenge not only to envision the ancient, ritualistic people who built it, but also to imagine a version of ourselves closer to nature … according to Wisser.Jed Oelbaum
ritualistically
ˌri-chə-wə-ˈli-sti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce ritualistic (audio)
-chə-ˈli-;
ˌrich-wə-
adverb

Examples of ritualistic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
There was something so comforting and ritualistic about waking up every morning and knowing my only task for the day was to walk to my next destination. Alison Cochrun, People.com, 31 Aug. 2025 This nearly ritualistic practice allows audiences to reconnect with cultural giants that thrive on nostalgia. Braedon Montgomery, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025 Their eponymous theme sets the tone with a churning brew of twinkling synths and ritualistic percussion, both of which are eventually subsumed into the supernatural (represented by the theremin) before a crash of guitar boils everything together into chaos. David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2025 Kylan Darnell became an overnight celebrity in the TikTok niche that documents the glitzy, ritualistic recruitment process for sororities. Dave Smith, Fortune, 16 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ritualistic

Word History

First Known Use

1844, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ritualistic was in 1844

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Cite this Entry

“Ritualistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ritualistic. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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