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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of observances
In just the past few weeks, public debate has centered on issues such as school curriculum oversight, commemorative and cultural observances and facility access policies.
—
Brett Wilson, Baltimore Sun, 13 Apr. 2026
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
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
The Latin patriarch of Jerusalem said Israeli police blocked him from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Palm Sunday services, an unprecedented move that comes as war and security restrictions disrupt Christian observances across the region.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 29 Mar. 2026
Brett Wilson, Baltimore Sun, 13 Apr. 2026
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
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
The Latin patriarch of Jerusalem said Israeli police blocked him from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Palm Sunday services, an unprecedented move that comes as war and security restrictions disrupt Christian observances across the region.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 29 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for observances
Noun
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Read on to discover their hosting rituals and shop their eclectic table.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
12 May 2026
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This is a beautiful romance, full of longing, heat and athletic men doing athlete things (training, competing, spiraling over rituals that may or may not matter).—
Erin La Rosa,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Noun
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And the observations, questions, and assertions in our articles are varying degrees of surprising, insightful, and amusing.—
Vulture Editors,
Vulture,
12 May 2026
-
Sharper than Hubble Researchers compared the new data with earlier observations from the Hubble Space Telescope.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
12 May 2026
Noun
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The Olathe Public Schools Board of Education defended its decision not to update its policy for honoring deceased students at graduation ceremonies in a statement this week.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
12 May 2026
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The incident occurred during the university's final month of classes, with exams scheduled for early June and graduation ceremonies at the Seattle campus set for June 13, the school's website states.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
Noun
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The university's Bangladesh Student Association has served as a liaison, asking the institution for help preserving Limon's remains in accordance with Islamic rites.—
Mirna Alsharif,
NBC news,
28 Apr. 2026
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The world may have been upended by the war and the ink has barely dried on the Treaty of Versailles, but the society doyennes are doing their darnedest to return to the rituals and rites that used to govern our days.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Observances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/observances. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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