1
as in formal
marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details
a century ago everyday life was much more ceremonious than in our anything-goes era
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ceremonial
following or agreeing with established form, custom, or rules
the ceremonious regalia of the Swiss Guards, the pope's traditional body guards
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Recent Examples of ceremonious
The extended ovation following Kershaw’s ceremonious exit in the top of the fifth preceded the uncontrollable catharsis of Shohei Ohtani’s go-ahead home run in the bottom of the fifth, a three-run shot that pierced the Giants’ soul.
—
Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 20 Sep. 2025
Today is the eleven year anniversary of the release of Destiny, perhaps not as ceremonious as last year’s tenth anniversary, one that did not end the series, but Bungie presses on.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
At some schools, the general manager is a ceremonious one, given to a program’s famous alumnus who can help gin up interest and money.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
Prior to kickoff in the game that marked the debut of the baby blue Riptide jersey, Inter Miami owners Jorge and Jose Mas officially welcomed De Paul with the same type of ceremonious presentation that was given in years past to the star foursome of Messi, Alba, Luis Suarez, and Sergio Busquets.
—Franco Panizo, Miami Herald, 27 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ceremonious
Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 20 Sep. 2025
Today is the eleven year anniversary of the release of Destiny, perhaps not as ceremonious as last year’s tenth anniversary, one that did not end the series, but Bungie presses on.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
At some schools, the general manager is a ceremonious one, given to a program’s famous alumnus who can help gin up interest and money.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
Prior to kickoff in the game that marked the debut of the baby blue Riptide jersey, Inter Miami owners Jorge and Jose Mas officially welcomed De Paul with the same type of ceremonious presentation that was given in years past to the star foursome of Messi, Alba, Luis Suarez, and Sergio Busquets.
—Franco Panizo, Miami Herald, 27 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ceremonious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ceremonious
Adjective
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This ritual, known as 'Sukye-sik,' is a formal ceremony where followers vow to live according to Buddhist teachings.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
6 May 2026
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For years, conservative politicians and commentators have portrayed it as a coordinated extremist threat, though law enforcement assessments have generally described it as decentralized and lacking formal leadership.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
6 May 2026
Adjective
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The former catcher was one of the six coaches fired last month following the team’s 10-17 start, so when the six Red Sox legends threw out their ceremonial first pitch, Martinez threw to current catcher Connor Wong instead of his former teammate.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
9 May 2026
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For Jimeno — who has spent years sharing his story through speaking engagements and books — the visit was more than ceremonial.—
Erin Hill,
PEOPLE,
6 May 2026
Adjective
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But such disagreements tended to be handled with the decorous language of diplomacy.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
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The playing position was thought more decorous than the position for the violin, and the mandolin itself was visually attractive, appearing as a fashion accessory in any number of paintings.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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One thing that makes Vim comfortable for me is the combination of Vim-Airline and Promptline, which together provide a nice status bar that helps highlight some useful info as one is editing a file.—
Lee Hutchinson,
ArsTechnica,
6 May 2026
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Right now, trends favor nice and pleasant weather Mother's Day morning into mid-afternoon with the chance of rain increasing toward the dinner hour and beyond.—
Cutter Martin,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
Adjective
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On May 1, Maryland observed Fallen Heroes Day, a solemn reminder of the extraordinary sacrifice made by the men and women who answer the call to serve others.—
Nick Stewart,
Baltimore Sun,
9 May 2026
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Protesters carried myriad homemade signs, some tongue-in-cheek, some more solemn.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
2 May 2026
Adjective
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These aren’t just any Airstreams, but ones that have been outfitted to include amenities like a little kitchenette for your morning coffee, a small couch, and a proper shower and restroom.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 May 2026
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Christensen disclosed his relationship with school psychology professor Bryn Harris to the university through the proper channels in late 2025, according to CU’s vice president of communications, Michele Ames.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ceremonious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ceremonious. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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