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
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3
as in divine
of, relating to, or being God
the Holy Trinity
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of holy
On her new single—a piano ballad of dubious sincerity—Canadian DJ and songwriter Brat Star invokes Paltrow’s greatest role as one-third of a holy trinity of disaffection.
—
Walden Green, Pitchfork, 2 Mar. 2026
The attacks also occurred during Ramadan, the holiest month for Muslims.
—La Risa R. Lynch, jsonline.com, 1 Mar. 2026
The Islamic world, including the UAE, is observing the holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims fast from sunrise to sundown.
—Dana Khraiche, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2026
Every year, two billion Muslims across the world observe Ramadan, Islam’s holiest month filled with fasting, reflection, charitable acts and community.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for holy
Walden Green, Pitchfork, 2 Mar. 2026
The attacks also occurred during Ramadan, the holiest month for Muslims.
—La Risa R. Lynch, jsonline.com, 1 Mar. 2026
The Islamic world, including the UAE, is observing the holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims fast from sunrise to sundown.
—Dana Khraiche, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2026
Every year, two billion Muslims across the world observe Ramadan, Islam’s holiest month filled with fasting, reflection, charitable acts and community.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for holy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holy
Adjective
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His political campaign is spinning into high gear, posting videos showing him as a pious governor holding a Bible, praying and hugging pastors.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Feb. 2026
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Singh, who would be our local guide, always wore the five traits of a pious Sikh man — uncut hair (symbolizing strength and holiness and topped by the identifying turban), a steel bracelet, wooden comb, sheathed dagger and a baggy undergarment dating back to the Sikhs’ warrior days on horses.—
Norma Meyer,
Oc Register,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Let the mind be, along with countless other things, a landing strip for sacred visitations.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Mar. 2026
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The film, now nominated for an Oscar, presents seemingly ordinary rooms that families have turned into sacred spaces, preserving them for years as a way to process grief.—
Hannah Kliger,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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When legislation is framed as fulfilling a divine mandate, the state risks becoming an instrument of a particular faith rather than a neutral guarantor of liberty.—
Brielle Miller,
Baltimore Sun,
9 Mar. 2026
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Whether male, female, or divine, these bodies convey force, belief, and energy.—
Li Qi,
Artforum,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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An unlikely band of prominent business, religious, government and academic leaders have set aside their political differences and signed onto a new declaration of human rights for the AI age.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
4 Mar. 2026
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In both his religious and civic life, Turner fought for Black equality.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The community is guided by a liturgical calendar, which Prince explains makes every day feel like a sacred moment.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
11 Mar. 2026
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Lent is an important approximately 40-day period in the Christian liturgical calendar marked by prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, or charity work.—
Matthew Kayser,
Ascend Agency,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Light, fluffy angel food cake is absolutely heavenly to serve on Easter.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
1 Mar. 2026
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Some intriguing plays and movies are in the offing this week, not to mention heavenly coffee and killer cupcakes.—
Randy McMullen,
Mercury News,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Most everyone in attendance at 2220 seemed to be there to meet or support one of their favorite artists, one of the devout purists of our time who manages to remain that without getting smug, lazy or feral, all common pitfalls.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
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Now Peterson is suing to assert his advisory privileges and regain access to the DAF, which was started by his late father, Gordon Peterson, a real estate investor and devout Christian, to support evangelical Christian causes.—
Hayley Cuccinello,
CNBC,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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British talk show host Graham Norton, who has had Swift as a guest on his program, claimed to have garnered an invite to the blessed event.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
29 Jan. 2026
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Ayatollah Khamenei personally ‘blessed’ Nouri al-Maliki’s nomination.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holy. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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