1
as in gesture
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
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2
as in ritual
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
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Recent Examples of formality
But what was once a simmering tension has now erupted into visibility and formality.
—
Tina Nguyen, The Verge, 25 Mar. 2026
McDonough and Stewart’s long-brewing relationship, which began when McDonough profiled the singer for The Village Voice in the late eighties, eschewed the formality or distance of a traditional journalist and subject.
—Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 17 Mar. 2026
The header choice affects how easily curtains slide open and closed, how much of the rod shows, and the overall formality of the room.
—Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
The Broncos had beaten the Spartans by 31 and 15 points earlier in the season and entered the tournament on a five-game win streak, giving the sense that Wednesday’s nightcap game in Las Vegas, Nevada, was more formality than competition.
—Idaho Statesman, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for formality
Tina Nguyen, The Verge, 25 Mar. 2026
McDonough and Stewart’s long-brewing relationship, which began when McDonough profiled the singer for The Village Voice in the late eighties, eschewed the formality or distance of a traditional journalist and subject.
—Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 17 Mar. 2026
The header choice affects how easily curtains slide open and closed, how much of the rod shows, and the overall formality of the room.
—Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
The Broncos had beaten the Spartans by 31 and 15 points earlier in the season and entered the tournament on a five-game win streak, giving the sense that Wednesday’s nightcap game in Las Vegas, Nevada, was more formality than competition.
—Idaho Statesman, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for formality
Recent Examples of Synonyms for formality
Noun
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Hojgaard and defending champion Min Woo Lee (67) chose to stay back on their way to the 18th green to give Woodland the stage to himself, a gesture rarely seen outside the majors.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
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In addition to tilt and pressure sensitivity, the Apple Pencil Pro adds squeeze and delete functions to the palette, along with a new barrel roll gesture and haptic vibrational feedback.—
Cierra Cowan,
PC Magazine,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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During the seder, the story of Exodus is retold through a series of rituals, including eating matzah and drinking four cups of wine.—
Bailey Allen,
Cape Cod Times,
28 Mar. 2026
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Looking back, among the largest gatherings was always Easter morning, and, of course, it was filled with rituals.—
Will Richmond,
The Providence Journal,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Alcantara left the mound with a lead, courtesy of the bottom of Miami’s lineup stringing together hits in the second.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
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Photograph courtesy Netflix At the very top level of the pop-music empyrean, where the K-pop group BTS surely resides, an album release is never just an album release.—
Mitch Therieau,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Video of the ceremony also showed the players wearing black armbands in remembrance of those killed since the war began.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
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Omar, 38, eventually married Hirsi legally in a 2018 ceremony before the two divorced after it was alleged that Omar was having an affair with her chief fundraiser Tim Mynett, who denied the claim.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Passover is among the observances most central to Jewish life.—
Brian Siegal,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Mar. 2026
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The annual observance marks how far into the new year women must work to make what men earned in the previous year.—
Andrea Hsu,
NPR,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Formality.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/formality. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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