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
The not-quite-musical (the Shakers were known for their frenzied singing) and not-quite-biopic was recently acquired by Searchlight, with a suitably holy Christmas Day release planned.
—
Alex Ritman, Variety, 15 Oct. 2025
The man reportedly circumvented barriers that surround the altar, climbed the steps and urinated on the holy structure.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
Fasting to feel empathy During the holy month, Muslims typically refrain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset.
—Miami Herald, 13 Oct. 2025
There are no direction markers, no information board to explain that here, nestled between an air-conditioner repair shop and a gaming cafe, lies one of Brazilian football’s holy sites.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for holy
Alex Ritman, Variety, 15 Oct. 2025
The man reportedly circumvented barriers that surround the altar, climbed the steps and urinated on the holy structure.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
Fasting to feel empathy During the holy month, Muslims typically refrain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset.
—Miami Herald, 13 Oct. 2025
There are no direction markers, no information board to explain that here, nestled between an air-conditioner repair shop and a gaming cafe, lies one of Brazilian football’s holy sites.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for holy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holy
Adjective
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Supported, at least initially, by his pious wife, Najmeh (Soheila Golestani), and his two teenage daughters, Rezvan (Mahsa Rostami) and Sana (Setareh Maleki), Iman and his clan seem set for a comfy bourgeois life.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Oct. 2025
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She was considered pious and held in high regard in the community, which made the accusations against her surprising.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Added to the trauma of grief and sudden eviction under threat of reprisal, Adelaida has to endure seeing the sacred mementos of her mother’s life trashed by the thuggish new squatters.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
31 Oct. 2025
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The most surprising ghost story of the season isn’t horror at all, but rather the story of one of America’s great artists wrestling spirits and trying to contain them on a cassette, which serves as its own kind of sacred vessel.—
Richard Newby,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Of course, Alexander Pope also suggested the follow up - to forgive divine.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
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This divine angel food cake's rich, moist texture is unlike any other.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Earlier this year, Wenski spoke with the Miami Herald during his annual Sunday motorcycle ride, an event that brings together hundreds of religious motorcycle lovers, while raising funds to benefit St Luke’s Center, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility.—
Lauren Costantino,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
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Many districts allow for short-term exceptions—such as for bereavement, family emergencies, or religious observances—but rarely for travel motivated by convenience or cost.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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During his tenure, Nelson introduced a series of organizational and liturgical changes intended to emphasize the centrality of Jesus Christ in church practice and to streamline local worship.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
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The work, which King has described as a meditation on love, resilience and inner-strength, is set to Black spirituals and Jewish liturgical music, features vocals by the great singer Lisa Fischer and a score by piano great Jason Moran, artists with whom the collab-happy King has worked before.—
Randy McMullen,
Mercury News,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The motions of the stars also exhibited a similar 24 hour period, as though the heavenly canopy rotated throughout the night.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
30 Oct. 2025
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Sold to Menemsha, studied in its craft, genuinely tense and gorgeously shot, highlighting the heavenly mountains and a historical hell.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The actor, 76, has been a devout Buddhist for over 40 years.—
Gillian Telling,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
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Many Latin acts, particularly from Puerto Rico, are devout Christians but don’t share their beliefs in their music.—
Leila Cobo,
Billboard,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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You're blessed, very blessed, very fortunate.—
Senior Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Oct. 2025
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Meyers, who graciously agreed to an Evite for the blessed event, then suggested Swift send the invites in a picture frame, since people will probably frame it up anyway.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Holy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holy. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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