Definition of consecratenext

consecrate

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb consecrate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of consecrate are dedicate, devote, and hallow. While all these words mean "to set apart for a special and often higher end," consecrate stresses investment with a solemn or sacred quality.

consecrate a church to the worship of God

When can dedicate be used instead of consecrate?

While the synonyms dedicate and consecrate are close in meaning, dedicate implies solemn and exclusive devotion to a sacred or serious use or purpose.

dedicated her life to medical research

When would devote be a good substitute for consecrate?

The meanings of devote and consecrate largely overlap; however, devote is likely to imply compelling motives and often attachment to an objective.

devoted his evenings to study

When is it sensible to use hallow instead of consecrate?

In some situations, the words hallow and consecrate are roughly equivalent. However, hallow, often differing little from dedicate or consecrate, may distinctively imply an attribution of intrinsic sanctity.

battlegrounds hallowed by the blood of patriots

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 consecrate
Adjective
Lana Del Rey doesn’t toy with signs—of American glamour and its decay, of female melancholia and racial desire—so much as consecrate them. Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2023
Verb
Later that evening, Rocky himself made an appearance, effectively consecrating his own corner of the fair and Design.Space as a whole. Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2025 Bergoglio was consecrated into the priesthood as a Jesuit, a religious order explicitly averse to moving up within the ranks of the church hierarchy. Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for consecrate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for consecrate
Adjective
  • An irresistible, holy spectacle.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Or does Lux ask us to crane our necks to appreciate base human longing that presents in ecstatic and horrific manifestations, in the hunger for all sorts of holy and unsavory connections?
    Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Despite the losses, Damon traveled to Texas and won the national title, dedicating the victory to his family and supporters.
    Nina Burns, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Since that time, Pratt has dedicated himself to railing against Bass, the Los Angeles City Council, and California Governor Gavin Newsom for their responses to the fires.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Residents of Northern California might perk up their ears at the inclusion of the Columbia River Gorge, a rugged and waterfall-blessed region in Oregon and Washington that’s within striking range.
    John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
  • And if she's found happiness, God bless.
    Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • That all being said, November 1st is sacred.
    Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Those individuals do not necessarily share the view that the Jewish people still share a sacred covenant with God.
    Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The Spanish chef’s fine-dining concept is an homage to the glories of the world’s oceans, with a strong emphasis on the bounty of the local waters that includes lionfish, Mahi Mahi, and an entire menu section devoted entirely to various renditions of conch.
    Jesse Ashlock, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Jan. 2026
  • But Man-su, who has devoted his life to the careful cultivation of paper products while everyone else has gone digital, has an easier time setting his crime in motion than in executing it.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Visitors who have had their fill of the beach can explore the Port Aransas Museum and Chapel on the Dunes, the oldest consecrated church on Mustang Island.
    Gabi De la Rosa, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2025
  • But there is more: a little way back from the water, knuckle-like boulders of sandstone or some other friable rock sharpen the ambience of a consecrated space.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Consecrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/consecrate. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.

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