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as in ritual
an oft-repeated action or series of actions performed in accordance with tradition or a set of rules some religions require very specific observances on holy days

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 observance In observance of what would have been his 100th birthday this week, AIR MAIL’s Photo Director, Ann Schneider, and Research & Legal Editor, Matt Kapp, share some of their favorite Vidal photographs and quotes. Air Mail, 27 Sep. 2025 European migrants brought festivals such as Samhain and other observances of mortality to North America. George Petras, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025 The observance of Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples' Day is always on the second Monday of October. Chris Sims, IndyStar, 26 Sep. 2025 By contrast, there was no observance of Latino or Asian heritage months, despite being the two largest ethnic groups. Laura Clawson, JSTOR Daily, 25 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for observance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for observance
Noun
  • Labor In a section of the report focused on workers’ rights and safety, the NCP reiterates its gripes about lack of supplier audit documentation and adherence to local law rather than international standards.
    Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 1 Oct. 2025
  • When Seedance and Seedream came out, his team conducted internal testing to compare their prompt adherence, image quality, speed, and cost to American competitors.
    Andrew R. Chow, Time, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Spiritually, onyx is linked to the root chakra and is often incorporated into rituals or crystal grids for stability, grounding and protection.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
  • The Masters’ green jacket, the haka before New Zealand rugby matches, the seventh-inning stretch in baseball—these rituals are not just trimmings but the connective tissue of sport.
    Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The team had a series of discussions and training for leaders in the field, building awareness and skillsets.
    Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2025
  • This strategy was effective, especially in poorer regions, but with mounting losses and increased public awareness about the fate of Russian troops at the front, these drivers are no longer enough.
    Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The regenerative alternative is free of lead, heavy metals, PFAS and formaldehyde—meeting compliance standards such as Prop 65, RoHS and Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Hazardous Chemicals (REACH).
    Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 9 Oct. 2025
  • The associate director is responsible for leadership, compliance and operational support requiring a high level of knowledge, skill and expertise to manage a specialized workload impacting all institutions statewide.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Golf event includes breakfast, open bar at the clubhouse, lunch and awards ceremony.
    Linda Mcintosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025
  • The 38th European Film Awards ceremony on January 17 will mark the first time in its new slot following a decision by the European Film Academy to move from the long-running December slot, to align the with the wider awards season calendar.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • This area was mostly empty at the beginning, but the monstrous sounds of the race cars firing up their engines drew a lot of attention.
    Keenan Thompson, Freep.com, 6 Oct. 2025
  • But carpe diem for Egbuka, who is a massive enough talent to step into this void and withstand extra defensive attention.
    Michael Salfino, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The picture created is the result of combining observations taken roughly 20 years apart.
    Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 7 Oct. 2025
  • These observations clearly suggest that AI was indeed used to create these videos.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In addition to Ducasse’s culinary mastery, offering a cohesive experience that encompasses the liveried staff in period costumes and the ceremonial is part and parcel of the success of the banquet, according to Révah.
    Lily Templeton, WWD, 20 Feb. 2025
  • For those who missed the game, most of the Chiefs’ scores came in garbage time; the lopsided affair was 24-0 at halftime, and the Eagles’ first score was a ceremonial Jalen Hurts Tush Push.
    Jess Bryant, The Athletic, 10 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Observance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/observance. Accessed 11 Oct. 2025.

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