as in towers
a large, magnificent, or massive building
the company didn't want just a new office building—it demanded a cathedral that proclaimed its place among the giants of finance
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of cathedrals
Carved from porous tufa stone once covered by the sea, the four wine cathedrals are considered an engineering marvel.
—
Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Gothic architecture, on the other hand, focused on height and light; despite being constructed from heavy stone, Gothic cathedrals seem to defy the laws of gravity.
—Stefanie Waldek, Architectural Digest, 9 Jan. 2026
But such uses are anomalies in the long-term transformation of stadiums from working-class cathedrals for the people into luxury palaces for the rich.
—John Seabrook, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
The granite peaks that stood above us like stone cathedrals reached skyward past 8,600 feet.
—Will Rice, Outside, 13 Nov. 2025
Gothic cathedrals, art deco villas, vintage yellow trams, impeccably dressed signore, bright red Negronis glinting in the sun—these are some of the most classic symbols of Milan, but there’s a whole other side to the city, one that’s contemporary, cosmopolitan, and just plain cool.
—Laura Itzkowitz, AFAR Media, 3 Oct. 2025
There are marching bands performing it and choirs singing it in cathedrals in Europe.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2025
England's historic cathedrals are costly to maintain.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2025
In an Instagram reel posted on her page (also shared by YouTube page My Husband is My Best Friend), the Basketball Wives LA star is sipping wine and engaging in tourist behavior like exploring monumental cathedrals with the Sacramento Kings coach before summer 2025 bows out.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 2 Sep. 2025
Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Gothic architecture, on the other hand, focused on height and light; despite being constructed from heavy stone, Gothic cathedrals seem to defy the laws of gravity.
—Stefanie Waldek, Architectural Digest, 9 Jan. 2026
But such uses are anomalies in the long-term transformation of stadiums from working-class cathedrals for the people into luxury palaces for the rich.
—John Seabrook, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
The granite peaks that stood above us like stone cathedrals reached skyward past 8,600 feet.
—Will Rice, Outside, 13 Nov. 2025
Gothic cathedrals, art deco villas, vintage yellow trams, impeccably dressed signore, bright red Negronis glinting in the sun—these are some of the most classic symbols of Milan, but there’s a whole other side to the city, one that’s contemporary, cosmopolitan, and just plain cool.
—Laura Itzkowitz, AFAR Media, 3 Oct. 2025
There are marching bands performing it and choirs singing it in cathedrals in Europe.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2025
England's historic cathedrals are costly to maintain.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2025
In an Instagram reel posted on her page (also shared by YouTube page My Husband is My Best Friend), the Basketball Wives LA star is sipping wine and engaging in tourist behavior like exploring monumental cathedrals with the Sacramento Kings coach before summer 2025 bows out.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cathedrals
Noun
-
Building new office towers was a nonstarter in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, when Atlanta was flooded with unwanted workspace.—
Zachary Hansen,
AJC.com,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Our first stop was the cemetery of Penpont Church, a handsome Gothic Revival building with a spire that towers a hundred and twenty feet over the village.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Every corner of the island bears witness to physical remnants of the seven nations whose flags once crowned its edifices, giving visitors the impression of exploring a living history book still intact.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Time captive within the grand edifices of the past, parading on the stage of memory.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The area is dotted with many extravagant forts and palaces built by the Rajputs.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Move over, Quentin Tarantino, there’s a new hotshot celebrity restoring old movie palaces to their former glory.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Bonaire Resort-style Cabin Kit Robin Pekkala, an Allwood Outlet brand representative, told Travel + Leisure to think of the structures as additional space outside of your home that can be transformed into a guest cottage, pool house, art studio, yoga room, home office space, or even a music studio.—
Rylee Johnston,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Laguna Beach city leaders are mulling a proposal that would ban large pop-up shade structures on the sand to protect the safety of beachgoers.—
Michele Gile,
CBS News,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cathedrals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cathedrals. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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