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
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 The creators of this medieval masterpiece have been lost to time, but it’s believed to have been commissioned by Odo, bishop of Bayeux and William’s half-brother, to decorate the nave of the new cathedral of Notre-Dame of Bayeux, which was consecrated in 1077. Maureen O'Hare, CNN, 20 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for consecrate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for consecrate
Adjective
  • Cash flow is king, and equity is the holy grail at the end of your quest.
    Thomas Burgess, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • Three years of consistent use later, this has become my holy grail beauty product.
    People Staff, People.com, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • Interoperability frees employees from repetitive tasks and enables them to dedicate their time to creativity, strategic thinking and high-value problem-solving.
    Cynthia Tee, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
  • But nobody seemed to realize the new charter language would repeal Measure J, which voters approved in 2020 to dedicate hundreds of millions towards services that offer alternatives to incarceration.
    Rebecca Ellis Follow, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • The South is blessed with exquisite peaches all summer long.
    Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 19 July 2025
  • The nurse called the priest to do an exorcism on the house and bless the nurse and her roommate.
    Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 15 July 2025
Adjective
  • From navigating narrow aisles to honoring the sacred quarter-for-a-cart ritual, shopping at ALDI is a uniquely communal experience.
    Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2025
  • The legislation also called for access to cultural sites, the use and possession of sacred objects, and the freedom to worship.
    Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 13 July 2025
Verb
  • Alaska ranks third, with residents devoting about 14 percent of their monthly income to premiums.
    Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
  • Now, Koller is devoting much of her time to her lifelong passion for blending biology and machine learning as CEO and founder of insitro, a drug discovery and development company.
    Diane Brady, Fortune, 9 July 2025
Adjective
  • Diving is a consecrated art, but Key struggles with her competing desire to contribute her research to the Museum of Human Memory instead of the temple in which she was raised.
    Natalie Zutter June 30, Literary Hub, 30 June 2025
  • Churches are fine, but consecrated Earth is dangerous to them.
    Jennifer Maas, Variety, 10 June 2025
Verb
  • Among Microsoft Teams’ most active users, tools like Copilot have saved up to eight hours per month, the equivalent of a full workday, by summarizing meetings, streamlining communications, and eliminating routine tasks.
    Kara Dennison, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • For more ways to save on your power bill or to see if opting out makes sense for your budget, visit Cyberguy.com/SaveonPower 7) Monitor comfort and performance Keep an eye on how your AC performs during demand events.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Consecrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/consecrate. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.

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