holy

adjective

ˈhō-lē How to pronounce holy (audio)
Definition of holynext
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

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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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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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of holy The incident in Bihar occurred near Ashok Dham Temple in Lakhisarai district, as thousands of devotees gathered to offer prayers on the third Monday of Shravan, one of the holiest months in the Hindu calendar. — ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026 But Schleien considers official pietism—the theocratic strictures, the holy geographies, and Iron Age notions of vengeance—a threat in its own right, and one that exacerbates various security crises. — Bernard Avishai, New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2026 As well as being home to Islam’s holiest sites, Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s top oil exporters. — Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026 Thus, the more Pentheus attempts to contain Dionysus, disguised as a foreign holy man, the more vehement and destructive the god becomes. — Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for holy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holy
  1. pious
  2. sacred
  3. divine
  4. religious
  5. liturgical
  6. heavenly
  7. devout
  8. blessed
Adjective
  • Adenauer, De Gasperi, and Schuman were all devout Catholics, and Monnet, though not a religious man, was born into a pious Catholic family.
    — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Philemon and Baucis, a pious Phrygian couple, hospitably received the disguised Zeus and Hermes after their richer neighbors had refused to do so.
    — Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 July 2026
Definition of pious
Adjective
  • If this has proved conflicting, Gibney does not let on, marching from sacred target to sacred target with little apparent tentativeness.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The gossamer thread holding the sacred feminine maelstrom together?
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of sacred
Adjective
  • Some scholars suggest that the gods’ multiple heads and arms signify the dynamic nature of divine action.
    — Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Historians say the horns may have been blown to scare evil spirits, to proclaim victories, or as a way to encourage divine mercy.
    — Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of divine
Adjective
  • Most are men between the ages of 18 and 49, without a college degree, earning less than $50,000 a year, less religious than average, and likely to also drink alcohol.
    — Dario Sabaghi, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Deepak and Madhu Ahuja, Plano, Texas, business owners who have been married for 34 years, were in the area for a religious journey to Mount Kailash, a sacred site for both Hindus and Buddhists.
    — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of religious
Adjective
  • Paintings, liturgical objects and the clothes of a notable 18th century Spanish count were among the other items removed from the monastery.
    — Angela Charlton, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The Cupichs attended a parish where mass was celebrated in Latin (the liturgical changes of the Second Vatican Council were yet to come) but the sermons were spoken in Croatian.
    — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 July 2026
Definition of liturgical
Adjective
  • Luzzi’s heavenly version is layered with almond, fig, honey and bavaroise.
    — Ann Lee, TheWeek, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Mixed Bag Birds, Hell’s Canyon, Idaho Extreme western Idaho is the place to enjoy a heavenly upland bird hunt in Hell.
    — Ron Spomer, Outdoor Life, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of heavenly
Adjective
  • The religious approach appealed to devout Catholics such as Velazquez, an immigrant from Mexico who spent three decades without status in the country, cutting hair from her home and cleaning houses when business was slow.
    — Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Ade, a devout Christian and the family’s sole breadwinner, struggles to understand her younger sister Titi, an aspiring singer whose independent spirit challenges convention.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of devout
Adjective
  • Thai Buddhists fill a container with blessed water, which is attached to a pulley that leads to the upper part of the chedi.
    — Brooke Schedneck, The Conversation, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Once, in the blessed era before the 24/7 news cycle and the omnipresence of social media, there was a lull in the months after the primary, with campaign activities picking back up around Labor Day.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of blessed

Phrases Containing holy

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hols
holy
holy day
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Cite this Entry

“Holy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holy. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on holy

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about holy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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