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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 rites
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
The dangers faced by health workers have been heightened by anger among residents over the stringent medical protocols for handling the victims’ bodies, which clash with local burial rites.
—
Justin Kabumba,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
The dangers faced by health workers have been heightened by anger among residents over the stringent medical protocols for handling the victims' bodies, which clash with local burial rites.
—
CBS News,
31 May 2026
Distrust, travel bans could complicate response Dangers faced by health workers have been heightened by anger among residents over the stringent medical protocols for dealing with the bodies of victims, which clash with local burial rites.
—
Mark Banchereau,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2026
At least three attacks have been recorded against health centers in Ituri province as residents protested stringent medical protocols that clashed with local burial rites, heightening the danger health workers face.
—
ABC News,
28 May 2026
Contact with the body of an Ebola victim is an easy way for the disease to spread, but sanitary disposal of a body conflicts with the cultural burial rites of the Congolese.
—
Mary Whitfill Roeloffs,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
The incident underscored growing tensions between health officials enforcing strict Ebola containment measures and local customs surrounding funerals and burial rites.
—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
22 May 2026
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
The dangers faced by health workers have been heightened by anger among residents over the stringent medical protocols for handling the victims’ bodies, which clash with local burial rites.
—
Justin Kabumba,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
The dangers faced by health workers have been heightened by anger among residents over the stringent medical protocols for handling the victims' bodies, which clash with local burial rites.
—
CBS News,
31 May 2026
Distrust, travel bans could complicate response Dangers faced by health workers have been heightened by anger among residents over the stringent medical protocols for dealing with the bodies of victims, which clash with local burial rites.
—
Mark Banchereau,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2026
At least three attacks have been recorded against health centers in Ituri province as residents protested stringent medical protocols that clashed with local burial rites, heightening the danger health workers face.
—
ABC News,
28 May 2026
Contact with the body of an Ebola victim is an easy way for the disease to spread, but sanitary disposal of a body conflicts with the cultural burial rites of the Congolese.
—
Mary Whitfill Roeloffs,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
The incident underscored growing tensions between health officials enforcing strict Ebola containment measures and local customs surrounding funerals and burial rites.
—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
22 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rites
Noun
-
Automatic contributions, delayed payment windows, small rituals that add friction to impulse spending — these are all behavioral architecture moves, not acts of self-denial.
-
The rituals culminate on the 10th day of the month Muharram, which this year falls on June 26.
Noun
-
Infantino did not mention if Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum or Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney—whose countries are also hosting World Cup games—would be part of the closing ceremonies.
-
Back in Iran, hundreds of people filled Tajrish Square, where ceremonies for the third Shia Imam, Husayn ibn Ali, were taking place as not far away others celebrated the resilience shown by their soccer team against a Belgian side packed with stars like Kevin de Bruyne and Leandro Trossard.
Noun
-
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.
-
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.
Cite this Entry
“Rites.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rites. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
