1
as in adherence
the following of a custom, rule, or law
the observance of this family tradition would make your grandmother very happy observance of the smoking ban in public buildings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ritual
an oft-repeated action or series of actions performed in accordance with tradition or a set of rules
some religions require very specific observances on holy days
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in awareness
a state of being aware
if you've been doing any significant housecleaning, it has escaped my observance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of observance
Certainly, both holidays tend to involve a lot of communal dining, some combined with ritual observances.
—
Harvey Levine, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025
If only Americans could see the beauty of this observance.
—Rabbi Steve Roth, Sun Sentinel, 23 Apr. 2025
Some experts question whether annual observance days like Earth Day still spur meaningful change—or have become performative rituals with limited impact on policy or behavior.
—Monica Sanders, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
Good Friday, a religious day of observance for Catholics and Christians, is not a federal holiday but some business operations are closed for the day.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for observance
Harvey Levine, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025
If only Americans could see the beauty of this observance.
—Rabbi Steve Roth, Sun Sentinel, 23 Apr. 2025
Some experts question whether annual observance days like Earth Day still spur meaningful change—or have become performative rituals with limited impact on policy or behavior.
—Monica Sanders, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
Good Friday, a religious day of observance for Catholics and Christians, is not a federal holiday but some business operations are closed for the day.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for observance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for observance
Noun
-
Brian by Jeremy Cooper Brian is a thirtysomething council worker in London who has always led a solitary life, one marked by an obsessive adherence to routine.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
7 May 2025
-
The Morality-Legality Divide In Business Legality refers to adherence to laws and regulations.—
Venkat Rao,
Forbes.com,
7 May 2025
Noun
-
In each iteration, the body of the deceased was pulled by livestock or carried by boat while mourners performed rituals to honor their lives and, in some cultures, to encourage safe passage for the spirit into the afterlife.—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott,
Southern Living,
10 May 2025
-
Generations pass, cultures overlap, and trends evolve, but the sanctity of beauty rituals for and by ourselves remain.—
Cierra Black,
Essence,
9 May 2025
Noun
-
Safety concerns are indifferent to days of the week, and increased awareness of the general and hunting public of each other’s presence and enjoyment of the outdoors are already well established in the state.—
Brandon Gleason,
Hartford Courant,
16 May 2025
-
This approach is not a replacement for therapy, but rather a first line of defense in emotional awareness.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
16 May 2025
Noun
-
The village gave the stores a few weeks to remove the product from their shelves, and the village has not had an issue with compliance in the past year, Wold said.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2025
-
Even in the early stages, schema drift, data quality issues and compliance gaps can erode confidence in your data.—
Sonam Kanungo,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
Noun
-
Meghan and Prince Harry first tied the knot in May 2018 in an ornate ceremony at Windsor Castle in the United Kingdom.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
20 May 2025
-
For the second year in a row, some students have used their graduation ceremonies as a platform to protest against Israel’s conduct of the war.—
Emma Whitford,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2025
Noun
-
Plus, no matter who's involved, humans have a natural tendency to pay close attention to danger and threats, especially if those threats have lurked without detection for so long.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
-
Today, consumers are paying close attention to how and where public companies conduct business.—
Vidya Plainfield,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
Noun
-
Even in the best of times, long-term observations can be very fragile.—
Eric Morgan,
Wired News,
10 May 2025
-
His observations are what sets him apart from everybody else.—
Matt Minton,
Variety,
10 May 2025
Noun
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In addition to Ducasse’s culinary mastery, offering a cohesive experience that encompasses the liveried staff in period costumes and the ceremonial is part and parcel of the success of the banquet, according to Révah.—
Lily Templeton,
WWD,
20 Feb. 2025
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For those who missed the game, most of the Chiefs’ scores came in garbage time; the lopsided affair was 24-0 at halftime, and the Eagles’ first score was a ceremonial Jalen Hurts Tush Push.—
Jess Bryant,
The Athletic,
10 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Observance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/observance. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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