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 Shawna Anderson, the San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority executive director, recently announced her retirement after dedicating 26 years to helping to protect and preserve the valuable open space corridor that stretches from the beach in Del Mar to Volcan Mountain in Julian. Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026 El Dorado, Placer, Yolo and Yuba counties do not have dedicated American Red Cross donation centers but offer mobile blood drives throughout their communities. Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 9 June 2026 To that end, Ariel’s Project Level, founded and chaired by Hobson and dedicated exclusively to women’s sports, closed a $250 million raise in early 2026. Sean Gregory, Time, 9 June 2026 Its advanced chip features dedicated Neural Accelerators to drive on-device Apple Intelligence AI tools smoothly on iPadOS 26. Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for dedicate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dedicate
Verb
  • By reducing fees, members of the SpaceX group hope to be able to devote more of their fortunes from the SpaceX IPO to philanthropy, the people said.
    Robert Frank, CNBC, 9 June 2026
  • That meant last summer devoting resources to improving the Hurricane Harbor water park, which Lawrence says specifically attracts families and grandparents.
    Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
Verb
  • Her fans, many sporting sheer red gloves, cat ears and varying levels of undress, were eager to be sated and reacted as if their souls were being saved within seconds of the start of each of the 23 songs Grande performed.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 7 June 2026
  • But as the two collaborators went on to explain, a superhero buddy comedy about a struggling actor that’s as interested in the logistics of auditions as saving the universe is a tough sell for any brand.
    Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dedicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dedicate. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.

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