1
as in pious
showing a devotion to God and to a life of virtue
the holy monk spent many hours on his knees in prayer
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sacred
set apart or worthy of veneration by association with God
the Torah contains the holy writings of Judaism
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3
as in divine
of, relating to, or being God
the Holy Trinity
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4
as in pure
not to be violated, criticized, or tampered with
the hour every Saturday she listens to her radio program is holy and you'd better not make her miss it
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of holy
Weeks later and about 90 blocks south, fellow Tony winner Matthew Broderick began playing the pious con man that causes holy hell in Lucas Hnath and Sarah Benson’s gender-bending revival.
—
Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 22 Jan. 2026
Some holy texts relocated to safety On the outside of the Beth Israel synagogue, which serves some 150 families, boards cover windows that stretch nearly from floor to ceiling, and soot stains concrete.
—Jason Carroll, CNN Money, 18 Jan. 2026
This national historic landmark is a Catholic holy site that draws thousands of visitors each year who make the pilgrimage on foot to seek healing.
—Sharael Kolberg, Travel + Leisure, 16 Jan. 2026
There was the Jesus People movement, a blend of the hippie and the holy, which began in California in the late 1960s.
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for holy
Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 22 Jan. 2026
Some holy texts relocated to safety On the outside of the Beth Israel synagogue, which serves some 150 families, boards cover windows that stretch nearly from floor to ceiling, and soot stains concrete.
—Jason Carroll, CNN Money, 18 Jan. 2026
This national historic landmark is a Catholic holy site that draws thousands of visitors each year who make the pilgrimage on foot to seek healing.
—Sharael Kolberg, Travel + Leisure, 16 Jan. 2026
There was the Jesus People movement, a blend of the hippie and the holy, which began in California in the late 1960s.
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for holy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holy
Adjective
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The series follows young teens Agnes, dutiful and pious, and Daisy, a new arrival and convert from beyond Gilead’s borders.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Per the official logline, the series follows young teens Agnes, dutiful and pious, and Daisy, a new arrival and convert from beyond Gilead’s borders.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
For West, who is a storm chaser, snow in the South would be a rare and sacred gift, one that the weekend storm was portending to produce throughout the region.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
28 Jan. 2026
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Instead of centering the holiday solely on date night, the two brands are focusing on the sacred solo ritual of getting ready.—
Virgie Tovar,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Imagine this velvety shade wrapping the walls and ceiling of a powder room or bedroom—divine!—
Tessa Cooper,
Southern Living,
26 Jan. 2026
-
For seasoned sky-watchers (and hopeful first-timers), this is one of those nights where being outside, looking north and trusting in the power of divine timing could pay off.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The court found Kim guilty of accepting bribes from the controversial religious sect Unification Church, including a Chanel bag and a Graff diamond necklace.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
28 Jan. 2026
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Basilicas were largely used for civic, not religious, purposes before Rome adopted Christianity.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Lent is one of the five seasons on the Catholic liturgical calendar, along with Advent, Christmas, Easter, and Ordinary Time.—
Jordan Green,
Memphis Commercial Appeal,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Grace was an acolyte at Lord's Chapel, wise in the ways of liturgical response.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
5 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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The sequence of Enoch among the heavenly hosts, violent, shattering with Blakeian geometry and color.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Zesty orange biscuits lay atop a bubbling mixture of tart plums, brown sugar, and five-spice in this oh-so-heavenly cobbler.—
Ginger Crichton,
Midwest Living,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Schemmel, a devout Christian, has done charitable work for decades, ever since that awful day in July 1989 when 112 people died in a fiery crash of United Airlines Flight 232 in Sioux City, Iowa.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
31 Jan. 2026
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No one mistakes him for a devout Christian or a person of faith or morality.—
Hillary Rodham Clinton,
The Atlantic,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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British talk show host Graham Norton, who has had Swift as a guest on his program, claimed to have garnered an invite to the blessed event.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
29 Jan. 2026
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Ayatollah Khamenei personally ‘blessed’ Nouri al-Maliki’s nomination.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holy. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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