Thesaurus results for FORMALITIES

formalities

noun

plural of formality

as in courtesies

an act or utterance that is a customary show of good manners bowing to your guest is a formality you don't need to perform for me

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in rituals

an oft-repeated action or series of actions performed in accordance with tradition or a set of rules churchgoers loved the formalities of a traditional Christmas Eve candlelight service

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 formalities Transfers, formalities, excursions, and ground transportation are handled throughout. — Guy Bigiaoui, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2026 Yet with all the formalities, there’s still a lot of uncertainty about just what the TIFF Market will look like. — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2026 Mackz has found that running can strip away some of the formalities of an interview and make space for more honest conversations. — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2026 Arfsten is expected to travel in the coming days to complete the move, pending formalities, sources say. — Tom Bogert, New York Times, 31 July 2026 During the 2000s, Villa Certosa became a global catalyst of international political discussion, while remaining at a comfortable remove from the protocols and formalities of the traditional places of government. — Mattia Ferraresi, Air Mail, 18 July 2026 Gerrymandering makes many general elections little more than formalities. — J.c. Polanco, New York Daily News, 17 July 2026 The bodies of the victims were being transported to Ho Chi Minh City before being flown to India after official formalities, according to the embassy. — CBS News, 13 July 2026 There’s no swanky reception desk, no concierge in pristine uniform, no formalities at all in fact. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for formalities

Noun

Small courtesies keep big efforts moving forward.

— Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 15 Mar. 2026
With both courtesies and catastrophes refusing to conform, the canton’s school board, publishers, and clergy were forced to produce multiple editions of primers, textbooks, and catechisms; sometimes five parallel print runs were needed for a population the size of a town.

— Simon Akam, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025

Definition of courtesies

Noun

Here are 16 satisfying activities and rituals to add to your fall bucket list.

— Clare Marie Schneider, NPR, 10 Oct. 2026
Shunned by locals, who believe she is cursed, Eleni turns to ancient rituals to resurrect her dead offspring but instead summons malevolent folkloric creatures known as the Kalikantzari.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of rituals

Noun

Her solo stage program was made from a highly imaginative, eclectic selection of traditional pan-Asian references, poses, and gestures.

— Thomas Patier, Artforum, 9 Oct. 2026
From Fall 2019, Vaccarello’s collections began not only to recall Saint Laurent’s gestures, but to expand upon and modernize them — testing the extremes of the founder’s silhouettes and codes to generate almost unbearable visual tension.

— Luke Leitch, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of gestures

Noun

Tree-lighting ceremonies each evening will feature snowfall effects.

— Tom Tapp, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026
In contrast to the official ceremonies, most of Wednesday’s commemoration events are grassroots efforts, organized by survivors and victims of the October 7 attack, including the October Council and the Kumu movement.

— Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of ceremonies

Noun

Although their mythological associations and forms of celebration differ by region, both are marked by major religious and communal observances and festivities.

— Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Oct. 2026
Most people can safely fast for Yom Kippur or other religious or cultural observances.

— Reed Berger-Fleishman, The Conversation, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of observances

Browse Nearby Words

formalistic

formalities

formality

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Formalities.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/formalities. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of formalities

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

outlandish

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes