1
as in holy
not to be violated, criticized, or tampered with
the sacred trust that exists between elected officials and the electorate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in divine
of, relating to, or being God
a sacred name that must not be uttered in vain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in religious
of, relating to, or used in the practice or worship services of a religion
a sacred chalice
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in venerated
set apart or worthy of veneration by association with God
the sacred bones of a saint
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in venerable
deserving honor and respect especially by reason of age
the alumni procession at graduation is one of the college's most sacred traditions, dating back over a hundred years
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 sacred
Its northern shore houses the Temple of the Tooth, one of Buddhism’s most sacred sites.
—
Eranda Jayawickreme, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
Birthright citizenship is a sacred ground for those of us in the civil rights community.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 23 Mar. 2026
Along the way, chocolate shifted in meaning and use, moving from sacred beverage to luxury item and eventually to a global staple.
—Michael James Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
There, these functional artworks — from clerical vestments and altar cloths to lamps, reliquaries and vessels for the performance of the Mass — made distant European rulers present in the liturgical life of Christianity’s most sacred site.
—Sarah Kozlowski, Dallas Morning News, 21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sacred
Eranda Jayawickreme, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
Birthright citizenship is a sacred ground for those of us in the civil rights community.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 23 Mar. 2026
Along the way, chocolate shifted in meaning and use, moving from sacred beverage to luxury item and eventually to a global staple.
—Michael James Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
There, these functional artworks — from clerical vestments and altar cloths to lamps, reliquaries and vessels for the performance of the Mass — made distant European rulers present in the liturgical life of Christianity’s most sacred site.
—Sarah Kozlowski, Dallas Morning News, 21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sacred
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sacred
Adjective
-
Each Christian during this holy season leading to Easter must take a careful inventory of his or her life.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Spinach has the tonic earthiness the season necessitates; lamb is the holy protein of now.—
Scott Hocker,
TheWeek,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Whether in this world or whisked away from it, there Nancy was, close to the divine presence.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Scientific inquiry could be pathway to the divine Adam Hincks, a Jesuit priest who teaches at the University of Toronto and serves as an adjunct scholar at the Vatican Observatory, believes that for some, contemplating dark matter and dark energy could elevate their minds to God.—
Deepa Bharath,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Army Chaplain Corps guidelines published during the Biden administration in February 2024, which remained on the Army’s website following the March 24 announcement, said the Chaplain Corps at that point represented more than 100 religious groups.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The speaker is considered a religious and social conservative within Iranian politics.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The venerated civil rights leader Dolores Huerta, who co-founded the UFW with Chavez and served as the union’s vice president, later came forward with her own accounts of abuse by Chavez.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Not only because its casting displays a high degree of difficulty in finding actors who also sing and dance, including an exciting discovery in Miles Caton, but also because casting director Francine Maisler is a venerated figure within Hollywood.—
Nate Jones,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The steps of the Algorithm can lead to dramatic improvement in speed and quality, even in the most venerable enterprises.—
Jon McNeill,
Big Think,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Hubble has observed Saturn for years, but the new observations and combined power of the venerable telescope and JWST will help astronomers better understand how the planet’s mysterious atmosphere evolves over time.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
For countless generations, humanity’s skyward gaze has revealed a heavenly abyss.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Should an earthly leader be promoting a heavenly cause?—
Brett Whalen,
The Conversation,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Dalai Lama calls for peace Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Tuesday posted an appeal for an end to war in the Middle East.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Pickled foods often accompanied bread during blessings, emphasizing their role as both sustenance and spiritual connection.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Kimbell show foregrounds how these works were used in the devotional and liturgical life of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.—
Sarah Kozlowski,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The community is guided by a liturgical calendar, which Prince explains makes every day feel like a sacred moment.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sacred.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sacred. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
