1
as in adherences
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 rituals
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of observances
Worshippers can now freely gather at Christian, Jewish, and Muslim sites for major religious celebrations, including Orthodox Easter and Ramadan observances.
—
Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Easter Monday falls on April 6, 2026, and continues religious observances.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 5 Apr. 2026
The Christian holiday celebrates the resurrection of Jesus and marks the culmination of Holy Week, a series of observances that includes Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and finally, Easter Sunday.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 2 Apr. 2026
As these annual observances continue, some may be wondering if Holy Week celebrations are (or have ever been) federally recognized holidays.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
In some modern Jewish congregations, contemporary afflictions and forms of oppression are incorporated into Passover observances alongside the traditional biblical plagues.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
Typically, thousands of pilgrims gather in the city for processions and prayers, but this year’s observances have been scaled back dramatically or canceled altogether.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 29 Mar. 2026
Later generations’ disconnection from their roots is depicted with the steady decline in the traditional mourning observances for older family members, which shrinks from a 7-day shiva for Henry in 1855 to just three minutes of silence for his grandson, Bobbie, in 1969.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre and other major holy sites were closed on Palm Sunday under Israeli wartime restrictions, disrupting one of Christianity’s holiest observances as the Iran war entered its fifth week.
—Eric MacK, FOXNews.com, 29 Mar. 2026
Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Easter Monday falls on April 6, 2026, and continues religious observances.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 5 Apr. 2026
The Christian holiday celebrates the resurrection of Jesus and marks the culmination of Holy Week, a series of observances that includes Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and finally, Easter Sunday.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 2 Apr. 2026
As these annual observances continue, some may be wondering if Holy Week celebrations are (or have ever been) federally recognized holidays.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
In some modern Jewish congregations, contemporary afflictions and forms of oppression are incorporated into Passover observances alongside the traditional biblical plagues.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
Typically, thousands of pilgrims gather in the city for processions and prayers, but this year’s observances have been scaled back dramatically or canceled altogether.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 29 Mar. 2026
Later generations’ disconnection from their roots is depicted with the steady decline in the traditional mourning observances for older family members, which shrinks from a 7-day shiva for Henry in 1855 to just three minutes of silence for his grandson, Bobbie, in 1969.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre and other major holy sites were closed on Palm Sunday under Israeli wartime restrictions, disrupting one of Christianity’s holiest observances as the Iran war entered its fifth week.
—Eric MacK, FOXNews.com, 29 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for observances
Noun
-
Humiliation rituals were driving players away from the game.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The film shifts the focus from traditional narratives of policy and victimhood to the everyday experiences of individuals adapting to a life of constant threat, raising critical questions about whether these safety rituals signify true preparedness or a surrender to violence.—
Brande Victorian,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Lower-level commanders have the authority to conduct certain types of operations without approval from central command, if contact with Tehran is disrupted or lost–an operational guideline stemming from Iran’s observations of how the US attacked Iraq.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Reid Wiseman and mission specialist Jeremy Hansen prepare for their journey around the far side of the moon by configuring their camera equipment shortly before beginning their lunar flyby observations.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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To honor his father's military service, Brunson, himself a retired Army vet, can also look forward to playing his trumpet at more local military ceremonies.—
Kim Hudson,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Both the 99th and 100th Oscars ceremonies will be broadcast live from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, with the 99th telecast airing on Sunday, March 14, 2027, followed by the 100th Academy Awards on Sunday, March 5, 2028.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The siting of the rites at the Colosseum—where it has been held since 1964, echoing a practice from the eighteenth century—means that the Pope enacts Jesus’ final hours not in a Baroque basilica but against the backdrop of the Roman Empire, which exercised power through violence.—
Paul Elie,
New Yorker,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Freedom to hold religious rites in Jerusalem must be ensured for all religions.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Observances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/observances. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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