as in rituals
an oft-repeated action or series of actions performed in accordance with tradition or a set of rules
the annual summer rite of loading up the car for the big family vacation
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Recent Examples of rites
Three Palestinians were laid to rest in traditional Islamic funeral rites.
—
Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
By the power vested in him, Pritz conducted the rites inside the Egyptian.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 28 Jan. 2026
The service moved between prayer and music, including a traditional Ave Maria, before concluding with rites that saw mourners approach the coffin, which was draped in white lace, to pay their final respects.
—Maliha Shoaib, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2026
Cleghorn writes speculatively and somewhat romantically of a culture in which women giving birth were sustained by ecstatic rites and practices conducted within the sacred protection of caves.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
Some, like Hamilton, strained for legitimacy in the rites and practices of monarchy.
—Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
In the Eastern rites of the Catholic Church, Theophany, which the holiday is often called in Eastern countries, celebrates the manifestation of Jesus’ divinity in addition to his baptism, according to The Catholic Witness.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
Spectropolis is never glib about the transparent profit motive sustaining such rites.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
However, this raises the question of why the community bypassed their traditional, lengthier burial rites.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 21 Dec. 2025
Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
By the power vested in him, Pritz conducted the rites inside the Egyptian.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 28 Jan. 2026
The service moved between prayer and music, including a traditional Ave Maria, before concluding with rites that saw mourners approach the coffin, which was draped in white lace, to pay their final respects.
—Maliha Shoaib, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2026
Cleghorn writes speculatively and somewhat romantically of a culture in which women giving birth were sustained by ecstatic rites and practices conducted within the sacred protection of caves.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
Some, like Hamilton, strained for legitimacy in the rites and practices of monarchy.
—Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
In the Eastern rites of the Catholic Church, Theophany, which the holiday is often called in Eastern countries, celebrates the manifestation of Jesus’ divinity in addition to his baptism, according to The Catholic Witness.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
Spectropolis is never glib about the transparent profit motive sustaining such rites.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
However, this raises the question of why the community bypassed their traditional, lengthier burial rites.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 21 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rites
Noun
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Leaders compelled members to participate in expensive rituals, make lavish donations, and provide the Church with free labor.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
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Tierra Santa Healing House introduces a comprehensive spa and longevity experience, featuring immersive hydrothermal rituals, botanical steam rooms infused with South American herbs, horizontal rain shower beds, cold plunge and red-light therapy and couples heated stone beds.—
Emma Kershaw,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Athletes wore a neutral uniform with the Olympic flag, and the Olympic anthem was played during their medal ceremonies.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
27 Jan. 2026
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The winners will be announced at concurrent ceremonies in Los Angeles and New York on March 8.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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As in recent years, Russia representatives were not invited to the observances at Auschwitz due to the country’s invasion of Ukraine.—
Vanessa Gera,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
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Early Christians used the period as preparation for major religious observances and for baptism, according to the Christian History Institute.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rites.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rites. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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