OBSERVANCES Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

observances

noun

plural of observance

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

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 show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of observances 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 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 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

Critics also felt the depiction of the 'Guryu Myeonryugwan' crown (a traditional royal headpiece historically associated with vassal state rituals) was incorrect.

— Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Much of the film is set in and around a Parisian elder-care facility, and Hamaguchi guides us through its rooms and hallways, its meetings and rituals, with a patience and passionate granularity worthy of the late documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 18 May 2026