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
Many districts allow for short-term exceptions—such as for bereavement, family emergencies, or religious observances—but rarely for travel motivated by convenience or cost.
—
Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Now employers must show a substantial hardship when refusing to honor religious beliefs or practices, such as allowing employees to wear a yarmulke, hijab or turban, pray at work or to schedule work around religious observances.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
Similar jijingu have been found across the Baekje kingdom’s capital, and offer a window into religious observances at the time—a mix of indigenous Korean animism combined with outside Buddhist and Chinese influences.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 16 Oct. 2025
Conference speakers remembered Kirk and incorporated the activist's memory in religious observances.
—Liam Adams, Nashville Tennessean, 20 Sep. 2025
Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Now employers must show a substantial hardship when refusing to honor religious beliefs or practices, such as allowing employees to wear a yarmulke, hijab or turban, pray at work or to schedule work around religious observances.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
Similar jijingu have been found across the Baekje kingdom’s capital, and offer a window into religious observances at the time—a mix of indigenous Korean animism combined with outside Buddhist and Chinese influences.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 16 Oct. 2025
Conference speakers remembered Kirk and incorporated the activist's memory in religious observances.
—Liam Adams, Nashville Tennessean, 20 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for observances
Noun
-
In subsequent decades, those group rituals became rarer as genres splintered and people’s tastes diversified.—
Jonathan Garrett,
The Atlantic,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Fear and anxiety are natural responses to uncertainty, but small daily rituals can restore calm.—
Essence,
Essence,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But astronomers don’t expect to receive the observations until February due to the rate at which the spacecraft is sending data back to Earth.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
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But over multiple days of observations with the Very Large Telescope in Chile and as 3I/ATLAS continued its journey closer to the sun, Rahatgaonkar and other researchers found that levels of nickel vapor continued to increase.—
NPR,
NPR,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Princess of Wales, 43, attended the first two awards ceremonies for the Earthshot Prize, joining her husband for the event in London in October 2021, followed by a second cycle in Boston in December 2022.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
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On November 11, the plaza celebrates Military Appreciation Day with live music, exhibits, and ceremonies.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Bigelow has often been accused of being apolitical—or, because of her fascination with the codes, rites, and aesthetics of men at war, of advancing a gung-ho fetishization of American militarism.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
14 Oct. 2025
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According to the Ceremonial of Bishops, such rites – often a Mass or a Liturgy of the Word – should take place as soon as possible following a desecration.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
12 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Observances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/observances. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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