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
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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 40-day period leads up to observances of Jesus’ death on Good Friday and resurrection on Easter.
—
Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Public observances will be held in Chicago and future plans for celebration of life events will be announced by the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Jackson family said in its statement Tuesday.
—Char Adams, NBC news, 17 Feb. 2026
Public observances will be held in Chicago.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 17 Feb. 2026
Public observances will be held in Chicago, according to his family.
—Zoe Christen Jones, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
The following state, federal and local government offices' schedules may be affected by holiday observances Monday.
—The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 16 Feb. 2026
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent, leading up to observances of Jesus' death on Good Friday and resurrection on Easter.
—ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026
Domestic accounts from Mount Vernon, his plantation estate, show no evidence of large celebrations or regular family observances.
—Tiago Ventura, Time, 14 Feb. 2026
Much like the Christian and Catholic observances of the Lent season leading up to Easter, Ramadan’s date on the Gregorian calendar changes each year, since it’s based on the lunar calendar.
—Lianna Norman, Florida Times-Union, 5 Feb. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Public observances will be held in Chicago and future plans for celebration of life events will be announced by the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Jackson family said in its statement Tuesday.
—Char Adams, NBC news, 17 Feb. 2026
Public observances will be held in Chicago.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 17 Feb. 2026
Public observances will be held in Chicago, according to his family.
—Zoe Christen Jones, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
The following state, federal and local government offices' schedules may be affected by holiday observances Monday.
—The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 16 Feb. 2026
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent, leading up to observances of Jesus' death on Good Friday and resurrection on Easter.
—ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026
Domestic accounts from Mount Vernon, his plantation estate, show no evidence of large celebrations or regular family observances.
—Tiago Ventura, Time, 14 Feb. 2026
Much like the Christian and Catholic observances of the Lent season leading up to Easter, Ramadan’s date on the Gregorian calendar changes each year, since it’s based on the lunar calendar.
—Lianna Norman, Florida Times-Union, 5 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for observances
Noun
-
Weir had never been averse to alcohol; among his many lifestyle rituals was burning off a night of wine with an intense morning run the next day.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Others say that a balance can be struck and that, in moderation, such rituals are part of the month’s festive spirit.—
Mariam Fam,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Here's everything to know about Curiosity and the latest discovery made from its observations.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
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The benefits of companion planting are purely based on longtime gardeners' observations.—
Ashlyn Needham,
The Spruce,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Permanent-residency applications from more than seventy countries have been frozen, naturalization ceremonies cancelled.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Earlier on Tuesday, Kosovo's security forces paraded in Pristina as part of the independence ceremonies, and Parliament held a special session.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Gomis, who’s credited along with five other editors, cuts from one ceremony to the other without warning, creating a vivid menagerie of sights, sounds, rites, languages, faces and places.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Feb. 2026
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Russia wants to swallow Ukraine, even though both nations share Orthodox rites.—
Josef Joffe,
The Atlantic,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Observances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/observances. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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