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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ceremonious
The ceremony sets the stage for each day’s contests and activities which include a ceremonious entrance led by a Native American veteran color guard, visiting dignitaries and tribal royalty, followed by dancers of all ages.
—
Staff Reports, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025
Roberts began the process while Melania was still finalizing her position, which may have disrupted the ceremonious act.
—Lizzie Hyman, People.com, 20 Jan. 2025
The vice president’s role in officiating the Electoral College count before Congress — the final step in the election process before a president takes the White House — was known for many cycles as one that was mostly uneventful and largely ceremonious.
—Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 6 Jan. 2025
The chief and Kayce seal the deal with a ceremonious blood pact.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 15 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for ceremonious
Staff Reports, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025
Roberts began the process while Melania was still finalizing her position, which may have disrupted the ceremonious act.
—Lizzie Hyman, People.com, 20 Jan. 2025
The vice president’s role in officiating the Electoral College count before Congress — the final step in the election process before a president takes the White House — was known for many cycles as one that was mostly uneventful and largely ceremonious.
—Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 6 Jan. 2025
The chief and Kayce seal the deal with a ceremonious blood pact.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 15 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for ceremonious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ceremonious
Adjective
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Pioneer’s formal notice comes after the practice was revealed by Daniel Swift, a principal at the global tax consulting firm Ryan that represents a number of commercial property owners in Boston, and reported on this month by the Herald.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
25 June 2025
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And on Tuesday, a day before his confirmation hearing, a whistleblower filed a formal complaint alleging Bove planned to knowingly defy court orders and withhold information from judges about the administration's deportation agenda.—
Carrie Johnson,
NPR,
25 June 2025
Adjective
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In Virginia, a ceremonial groundbreaking was held for rebuilding the First Baptist Church of Williamsburg, one of the nation's oldest Black churches.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
20 June 2025
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Based on the blade decorations, sheath shape and burial location on Okinoshima, researchers concluded the 1,300-year-old artifact was made to be a ritual offering or to have a ceremonial purpose, not to be a functional weapon.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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More decorous versions simply excluded Jews, Blacks, and others to create those ethnic enclaves Vance decries in the form of elite institutions from country clubs to, formerly, Congress and the courts.—
Rebecca Solnit
August 23,
Literary Hub,
23 Aug. 2024
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Instead, they are selected and rearranged to form a narrative of gradual debasement: a semantic descent from the decorous to the vulgar, often ending with crude references to the body.—
Jeffrey Weiss,
Artforum,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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Nevertheless, nice to get an explanation for why Vondrousova has been invisible.—
James Hansen,
New York Times,
21 June 2025
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Every single crewmember, everyone who worked on the show, along with the actors, every person on this show was so hard-working and dedicated and so genuinely nice.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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In the procedural drama, Rodríguez brings to life a multi-layered and solemn character shaped by a traumatic childhood — abused within the foster care system, with no knowledge of his origins, and struggling with severe dyslexia.—
Veronica Villafañe,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
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This protection -- known as the seal of confession -- is among the oldest and most solemn obligations in the Catholic Church, grounded in the Church’s teaching that, in the sacrament, penitents are confidentially confessing to and receiving forgiveness from God.—
Hiram Sasser,
National Review,
15 June 2025
Adjective
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The borrower acknowledges that the borrower is capable of using the pans in a safe and proper manner.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
19 June 2025
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Talk to your provider about your symptoms and health history to determine if Botox is the proper treatment for you.—
Brandi Jones,
Health,
19 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ceremonious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ceremonious. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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