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
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Recent Examples of cathedrals
College football’s greatest assets are its fans and cathedrals.
—
Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 1 June 2026
The result is not the hushed heaviness of many European cathedrals, but something brighter and much more vertical.
—David Nikel, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Built of local stone, the railway’s great viaducts are as grand as cathedrals, and seem to rise naturally from their landscape.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 3 May 2026
Entry is free, and the interior is genuinely stunning — the kind of stop that rewards curiosity even if cathedrals aren’t typically your thing.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026
On shrill winter nights, Moscow’s power is conspicuous, its Orthodox cathedrals and Stalinist high-rises illuminated, though the view falls dim in the autumn and spring, shrouded in sheets of greige.
—Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
In February, a large contingent of city residents made the short drive into Indianapolis to one of Indiana’s most revered basketball cathedrals, Hinkle Fieldhouse.
—Michael Marot, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
His high school gym was not the massive cathedrals built to serve the altars of Hoosier hysteria, but with 4,620 seats, the Greenfield Cougar Den is no slouch, either.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026
The problem is those cathedrals couldn’t move.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026
Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 1 June 2026
The result is not the hushed heaviness of many European cathedrals, but something brighter and much more vertical.
—David Nikel, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Built of local stone, the railway’s great viaducts are as grand as cathedrals, and seem to rise naturally from their landscape.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 3 May 2026
Entry is free, and the interior is genuinely stunning — the kind of stop that rewards curiosity even if cathedrals aren’t typically your thing.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026
On shrill winter nights, Moscow’s power is conspicuous, its Orthodox cathedrals and Stalinist high-rises illuminated, though the view falls dim in the autumn and spring, shrouded in sheets of greige.
—Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
In February, a large contingent of city residents made the short drive into Indianapolis to one of Indiana’s most revered basketball cathedrals, Hinkle Fieldhouse.
—Michael Marot, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
His high school gym was not the massive cathedrals built to serve the altars of Hoosier hysteria, but with 4,620 seats, the Greenfield Cougar Den is no slouch, either.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026
The problem is those cathedrals couldn’t move.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cathedrals
Noun
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Cerro San Cristóbal is also a short stroll from The Ritz-Carlton, where gondolas transport you to the top to see the Virgin Mary statue that towers over the city and the beautiful gardens surrounding it.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
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The palace is a fantasia, with a courtyard that does not lead to any rooms and three towers topped by onion domes—the tallest of which was dedicated to Stockalper’s namesake, Kaspar, of the Three Magi, and adorned by symbols of the sun.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Those living in Upper Manhattan and Harlem must contend with buildings and structures rising up from The Bronx; those on the Upper East Side and Midtown will be looking toward Queens, while those in the East Village, down to Houston Street, are facing Brooklyn edifices.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
18 May 2026
-
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
Noun
-
The Main Square—one of the largest medieval squares in Europe—is surrounded by Renaissance palaces, churches and towers that survived two world wars.—
Laura Begley Bloom,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
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Jaipur is also one of India’s premier wedding destinations where ornate palaces and historical forts provide the backdrop for days-long traditional and modern festivities.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
21 May 2026
Noun
-
The Solana Beach City Council approved a second reading May 27 of an ordinance that outlines the types of structures that are allowed in public spaces used for outdoor dining.—
Luke Harold,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2026
-
Keep a distance from tall, solitary trees or other elevated structures.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cathedrals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cathedrals. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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