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
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Recent Examples of observances
Kiddon harkened back to the early days of the La Grange post’s Memorial Day observances, which have been a tradition there for 82 years.
—
Hank Beckman, Chicago Tribune, 26 May 2026
Memorial Day observances were also held at Forest Lawn memorial parks in Covina Hills, Hollywood Hills and Glendale.
—Daily News, 25 May 2026
In the United States, flags are lowered to half-staff on certain national observances and following the deaths of notable public officials.
—Laura Daniella Sepulveda, AZCentral.com, 25 May 2026
As Memorial Day observances take place on May 25, participants in parts of the eastern half of the United States could be dodging showers and thunderstorms, while the west remains mostly dry and hot.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 24 May 2026
Although Ashura is the day when the mourning reaches its culmination, Muharram has come to mean the collection of observances during this sacred and sorrowful time at the start of the year.
—Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 May 2026
That means offices and observances tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, such as Miami Dade Black Affairs initiatives, Women’s History Month programming, and a wide range of cultural and heritage related programming across Florida.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 May 2026
The Black Wall Street Rally also returns to Greenwood that weekend, with speakers, panels, and community programming connected to Greenwood Rising’s Juneteenth observances.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 14 May 2026
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
Hank Beckman, Chicago Tribune, 26 May 2026
Memorial Day observances were also held at Forest Lawn memorial parks in Covina Hills, Hollywood Hills and Glendale.
—Daily News, 25 May 2026
In the United States, flags are lowered to half-staff on certain national observances and following the deaths of notable public officials.
—Laura Daniella Sepulveda, AZCentral.com, 25 May 2026
As Memorial Day observances take place on May 25, participants in parts of the eastern half of the United States could be dodging showers and thunderstorms, while the west remains mostly dry and hot.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 24 May 2026
Although Ashura is the day when the mourning reaches its culmination, Muharram has come to mean the collection of observances during this sacred and sorrowful time at the start of the year.
—Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 May 2026
That means offices and observances tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, such as Miami Dade Black Affairs initiatives, Women’s History Month programming, and a wide range of cultural and heritage related programming across Florida.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 May 2026
The Black Wall Street Rally also returns to Greenwood that weekend, with speakers, panels, and community programming connected to Greenwood Rising’s Juneteenth observances.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 14 May 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for observances
Noun
-
Over time, these stellar fireworks tend to fade, but Chandra observations of the galaxy Messier 83 (M83) from 2000 through 2014 suggests that’s not always the case.—
Marta Hill,
Scientific American,
16 June 2026
-
Previous observations with the Hubble Space Telescope also found evidence that magnesium and iron were escaping from the planet's atmosphere, likely driven by intense ultraviolet radiation from its host star.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
Its beauty lies in repetition, in comfort and in the quiet rituals of everyday life.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
16 June 2026
-
If anything, today encourages you to experiment with your schedule, work habits, wellness rituals or daily responsibilities in a way that actually supports and inspires you.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
However, in the years following, the quality of the company’s reporting and data improved considerably and, by 2011, most wastewater non compliances were no longer present.—
Christine Ro,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
With major investments in certifications and compliances in FBI CJIS, FERPA, COPPA, and HIPAA, the program’s commitment is to securely store your evidence and information and keep your data private, never sharing or selling it.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
30 June 2025
Noun
-
Much more rarely, presidents travel for ceremonies and events, such as foreign leaders’ funerals, or simply to visit American military installations.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
16 June 2026
-
Princess Anne's kids did not publicly attend Trooping or the Order of the Garter ceremonies.—
Janine Henni,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
Fewer people can count on the classic rites of passage anymore—or assume that those rites will make the rest of life easier.—
Faith Hill,
The Atlantic,
8 Dec. 2025
-
Spectropolis is never glib about the transparent profit motive sustaining such rites.—
Dan Piepenbring,
Harpers Magazine,
23 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Observances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/observances. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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