1
as in pious
showing a devotion to God and to a life of virtue
the holy monk spent many hours on his knees in prayer
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sacred
set apart or worthy of veneration by association with God
the Torah contains the holy writings of Judaism
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in divine
of, relating to, or being God
the Holy Trinity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in pure
not to be violated, criticized, or tampered with
the hour every Saturday she listens to her radio program is holy and you'd better not make her miss it
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of holy
There’s nothing overtly religious about The Middle, but at least one character is a bit of a holy roller.
—
Will Harris, EW.com, 30 July 2025
The structure took a more holy turn in 1954, when a 3607 Pennsylvania was purchased by a church.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 7 Aug. 2025
In the drive to make PCI Express 5.0 SSDs usable on a wider range of platforms, the holy grail for drive manufacturers would seem to be effective thermal management without sacrificing performance.
—PC Magazine, 6 Aug. 2025
The indie singer-songwriter has holy pipes and a way with words that can entrance all ages.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for holy
Will Harris, EW.com, 30 July 2025
The structure took a more holy turn in 1954, when a 3607 Pennsylvania was purchased by a church.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 7 Aug. 2025
In the drive to make PCI Express 5.0 SSDs usable on a wider range of platforms, the holy grail for drive manufacturers would seem to be effective thermal management without sacrificing performance.
—PC Magazine, 6 Aug. 2025
The indie singer-songwriter has holy pipes and a way with words that can entrance all ages.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for holy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holy
Adjective
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The mobius-thinking at times almost seems like Medieval Zen, what with the emphasis on emptiness and silent meditation, and in fact that was what the Church fathers objected to most: too much quiet, solitary contemplation, not enough pious instruction.—
Jon Raymond
August 5,
Literary Hub,
5 Aug. 2025
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This may well sound like something that would’ve been played as a pious Christian allegory in another era.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
3 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Read the full Virgo Daily Horoscope Libra (September 23 - October 22) Need a sacred pause before your next beginning?—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
22 Aug. 2025
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The turtle’s squares and arrows point toward OKC, reflecting the four sacred directions.—
Nick Crain,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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There have long been tales of cities instantaneously destroyed by some divine wrath, such as the angry Divinity of the Hebrew Scriptures raining sulfur upon Sodom and Gomorrah, but in Hiroshima humanity had finally apotheosized itself into the terrible position of God.—
Ed Simon
August 18,
Literary Hub,
18 Aug. 2025
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Some saw their terminal illnesses as divine punishment and feared being cast into hell.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
17 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Eventually, the ground will subside, leaving behind a crater about 1,000 feet deep and nearly 2 miles across, obliterating Oak Flat and its religious and environmental significance.—
Debra Utacia Krol,
AZCentral.com,
19 Aug. 2025
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Nashville faith leaders who gathered at Richland Park on Aug. 17 used their religious unity to support immigrant communities amid a recent wave of arrests.—
Andy Humbles,
Nashville Tennessean,
18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The astral phenomenon is set to leave a moon-sized dark spot in the heavenly panorama on the night of Saturday, Aug. 23.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
20 Aug. 2025
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Acadia National Park, Maine Situated on the coast of Maine, Acadia National Park is one of the darkest spots on the Eastern Seaboard and a heavenly place to see the celestial dance.—
Sophie Friedman,
AFAR Media,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Many of the greatest scientists of the 17th and 18th centuries were devout Christians, whose faith motivated them to pursue their studies.—
Gregory J Rummo,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Aug. 2025
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Hermann, still a devout Catholic who prayed on his knees every night, would listen, nod, and occasionally offer spiritual advice.—
Nancy Walecki,
The Atlantic,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Detroit, the test of vision, long tentacles of liberation hold ground, hold blessed ground, stay, hold.—
Anne Waldman
August 14,
Literary Hub,
14 Aug. 2025
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Who would speak ill about a child that has had dozens of surgeries and is so blessed to even be here with us today?—
John Lawson,
Essence,
9 July 2025
Adjective
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News coverage, starting with correspondent Joan Rivers’ outrageous taunts and then shifting to a far more reverent tone from 2006 to 2021, when Ryan Seacrest joined Rancic for live news desk and awards show coverage.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
29 July 2025
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His surviving works — just over 30 in all — form a kind of visual music or poetry: reverent, revelatory.—
Jerry Saltz,
Vulture,
2 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Holy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holy. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.
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