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
The Sacramento area has held free Juneteenth festivals and celebrations for decades, with festivities expanding as official observances on the local, state and national levels has continued expanding.
—
Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 17 June 2026
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
Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 17 June 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for observances
Noun
-
The observations suggest that the planet's evening terminator — the region rotating out of daylight — is hotter than its morning counterpart.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
16 June 2026
-
An iconic panoramic view of the Andromeda Galaxy that Hubble captured, for instance, was a mosaic stitched together from more than 400 observations.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
15 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
-
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
-
Religious and traditional leaders, who oversee burial and funeral rites, are often the most trusted voices in their communities.—
Katherine Marshall,
STAT,
12 June 2026
-
With Hillary Dawa alone on the world’s tallest mountain in perilous conditions for so long, his family had already begun funeral rites for him.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
5 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Observances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/observances. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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