Synonyms of hallow

hallow

verb

ˈha-(ˌ)lō 

as in to bless

to make holy through prayers or ritual

Lincoln's memorable words at the Gettysburg battlefield, "we cannot dedicate—we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow—this ground"

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bless
• consecrate
• sanctify
• dedicate
• sacralize
• devote
• purify
• cleanse
• spiritualize
• exorcise
• baptize
• canonize
• chasten
• expurgate
• lustrate
• commit
• reconsecrate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• desecrate
• soil
• defile
• profane
• dirty
• violate
• pollute
• taint
• blaspheme
• desanctify
• desacralize
• curse
• punish
• damn
• foul
• deconsecrate
• cuss
• condemn
• cast out
• execrate

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb hallow contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of hallow are consecrate, dedicate, and devote. While all these words mean "to set apart for a special and often higher end," hallow, often differing little from dedicate or consecrate, may distinctively imply an attribution of intrinsic sanctity.

battlegrounds hallowed by the blood of patriots

When could consecrate be used to replace hallow?

The words consecrate and hallow are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, consecrate stresses investment with a solemn or sacred quality.

consecrate a church to the worship of God

When can dedicate be used instead of hallow?

The synonyms dedicate and hallow are sometimes interchangeable, but dedicate implies solemn and exclusive devotion to a sacred or serious use or purpose.

dedicated her life to medical research

In what contexts can devote take the place of hallow?

In some situations, the words devote and hallow are roughly equivalent. However, devote is likely to imply compelling motives and often attachment to an objective.

devoted his evenings to study

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of hallow

Yet, these grounds were hallowed to the African American community. —Chip Colwell, The Conversation, 22 Oct. 2025

In a new political environment in which none of the new leaders could claim to be revolutionary founding fathers, Deng’s blessing hallowed Jiang and Hu and helped ensure that each survived the vicissitudes of succession politics. —Jonathan A. Czin, Foreign Affairs, 21 Oct. 2025

In a world where hallowed news organizations transform into conservative mouthpieces and ​milquetoast late-night jokes are grounds for suspension, satirical headlines from the Onion can feel closer to real life than parody. —Manisha Krishnan, Wired News, 25 Sep. 2025

But embracing its blues roots has begun to help revitalize the town, with places like the crossroads and Ground Zero standing as legitimate tourist attractions, hallowed ground boasting visits from legendary rockers like Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant. —Jim Ryan, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025

There's a broad acknowledgement that the party infrastructure has been hallowed out, that there needs to be more organizing and resource-sharing at the local level on upward, and that this will take money, which is currently the party's biggest problem. —Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 8 Jan. 2025

So, this rom-com isn’t likely to crack the AFI Top 100, but John Tucker Must Die commands hallowed ground in the revenge-movie canon. —Lauren Sanchez, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2024

But long before stars like Hamilton, one name was hallowed: Ayrton Senna. —Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 29 Nov. 2024

This week's quiz is highlighted by holidays, hallowed sites and competitions on the high seas — plus a few other surprises. —Kerry J. Byrne, Fox News, 1 Sep. 2024