Definition of dedicatenext
as in to devote
to keep or intend for a special purpose a young attorney who has decided to dedicate her career to helping the poor receive justice

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How does the verb dedicate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of dedicate are consecrate, devote, and hallow. While all these words mean "to set apart for a special and often higher end," dedicate implies solemn and exclusive devotion to a sacred or serious use or purpose.

dedicated her life to medical research

Where would consecrate be a reasonable alternative to dedicate?

The synonyms consecrate and dedicate are sometimes interchangeable, but consecrate stresses investment with a solemn or sacred quality.

consecrate a church to the worship of God

When might devote be a better fit than dedicate?

Although the words devote and dedicate have much in common, devote is likely to imply compelling motives and often attachment to an objective.

devoted his evenings to study

In what contexts can hallow take the place of dedicate?

While in some cases nearly identical to dedicate, 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 dedicate Whaling Wall 1 appears alongside the Pacific Coast Highway and was dedicated in 1981; number 100 was painted outside Wyland’s own studio building in 1996. Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 18 May 2026 Chad Rinde, Sacramento County tax collector and director of finance, told the Board of Supervisors that a prior owner of the land, a developer, had dedicated it to the city years before for drainage use. Graham Womack may 18, Sacbee.com, 18 May 2026 McClay decided to pursue her passion by launching a business dedicated exclusively to women’s sports. Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 18 May 2026 Johnson dedicated his entertainer win to fellow nominee Luke Combs, recalling how Combs has missed the birth of his youngest son, Chet Wiley Combs, while the two were on tour together in Australia. Stephen Hubbard, ABC News, 18 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for dedicate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dedicate
Verb
  • Because teams are deciding whether to devote millions of dollars and precious roster spots to occasionally unreliable males in their early twenties, much of a scout’s work is akin to investigative reporting.
    Dan Greene, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
  • The show devotes a lot of screen time to the fallout from a particular revelation and the subsequent efforts to smoke out the mole.
    Kate Lavelle, Glamour, 18 May 2026
Verb
  • At 2-0 down, and with Nuno Espirito Santo shuffling to a back-four, there was a flicker of a pulse and two decent saves from Nick Pope.
    George Caulkin, New York Times, 18 May 2026
  • Jeffries had lived with his parents during law school to save money.
    Jason Zengerle, New Yorker, 18 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dedicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dedicate. Accessed 23 May. 2026.

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