as in rituals
an oft-repeated action or series of actions performed in accordance with tradition or a set of rules
the annual summer rite of loading up the car for the big family vacation
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Recent Examples of rites
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
Russia wants to swallow Ukraine, even though both nations share Orthodox rites.
—Josef Joffe, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
Three Palestinians were laid to rest in traditional Islamic funeral rites.
—Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
By the power vested in him, Pritz conducted the rites inside the Egyptian.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 28 Jan. 2026
The service moved between prayer and music, including a traditional Ave Maria, before concluding with rites that saw mourners approach the coffin, which was draped in white lace, to pay their final respects.
—Maliha Shoaib, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2026
Cleghorn writes speculatively and somewhat romantically of a culture in which women giving birth were sustained by ecstatic rites and practices conducted within the sacred protection of caves.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
In the Eastern rites of the Catholic Church, Theophany, which the holiday is often called in Eastern countries, celebrates the manifestation of Jesus’ divinity in addition to his baptism, according to The Catholic Witness.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
Spectropolis is never glib about the transparent profit motive sustaining such rites.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
Russia wants to swallow Ukraine, even though both nations share Orthodox rites.
—Josef Joffe, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
Three Palestinians were laid to rest in traditional Islamic funeral rites.
—Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
By the power vested in him, Pritz conducted the rites inside the Egyptian.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 28 Jan. 2026
The service moved between prayer and music, including a traditional Ave Maria, before concluding with rites that saw mourners approach the coffin, which was draped in white lace, to pay their final respects.
—Maliha Shoaib, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2026
Cleghorn writes speculatively and somewhat romantically of a culture in which women giving birth were sustained by ecstatic rites and practices conducted within the sacred protection of caves.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
In the Eastern rites of the Catholic Church, Theophany, which the holiday is often called in Eastern countries, celebrates the manifestation of Jesus’ divinity in addition to his baptism, according to The Catholic Witness.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
Spectropolis is never glib about the transparent profit motive sustaining such rites.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rites
Noun
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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
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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
-
Permanent-residency applications from more than seventy countries have been frozen, naturalization ceremonies cancelled.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
17 Feb. 2026
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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
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The 40-day period leads up to observances of Jesus’ death on Good Friday and resurrection on Easter.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Rites.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rites. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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