1
as in habit
a usual manner of behaving or doing
her morning ritual is to enjoy a bracing cup of coffee while reading the newspaper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in ceremony
an oft-repeated action or series of actions performed in accordance with tradition or a set of rules
a ritual that the ancient peoples of that country believed would bring rain
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in ceremonial
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of ritual
Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
The dissonance between their bacchanalian ritual and Adelaida’s silent, solitary suffering is marked, and the disrespect for the dead further underlined when a gravedigger tersely shoos her away from the graveside, reminding her that the area is unsafe, especially at nightfall.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
Big Think, 29 Oct. 2025
Enter kitchen witchery, a practice rooted in modern witchcraft that blends intention, ritual, and everyday cooking.
—Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ritual
Noun
In traditional rituals, indigenous people offer departed spirits food and water to help them on their journey, which sparked the modern-day tradition of ofrendas, a special type of altar set up for the occasion.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
The dissonance between their bacchanalian ritual and Adelaida’s silent, solitary suffering is marked, and the disrespect for the dead further underlined when a gravedigger tersely shoos her away from the graveside, reminding her that the area is unsafe, especially at nightfall.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Over time, as the original practice gets diluted, ritual takes over as a memory device.
—Big Think, 29 Oct. 2025
Enter kitchen witchery, a practice rooted in modern witchcraft that blends intention, ritual, and everyday cooking.
—Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ritual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ritual
Noun
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Reports also indicate that despite Clooney’s jokes about it, the actor isn’t planning to make a habit of nights like that one.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Barrymore’s making adjustments to her beauty habits as well.—
Jackie Fields,
PEOPLE,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
After the executions, the bodies were discarded without ceremony.—
James Frater,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
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Now a mommy influencer on Instagram, Abby and her husband call upon Noah to oversee a baby naming ceremony, which a vengeful Joanne also attends.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In May 2024, SANIL announced a corporate restructuring that elevated Brown to CEO and relegated Belzer to a largely ceremonial role as co-chairman.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
30 Oct. 2025
-
First ladies Bess Truman and Mamie Eisenhower used the space in more of a ceremonial capacity, Lee said, before Jackie Kennedy came in and set about preserving the historical integrity of the White House.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But the nation's approximately 232 million people are split near evenly between Muslims and Christians, with smaller percentages following other practices, including indigenous beliefs.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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This practice had its own history, another tributary to the overshoot conjuncture that weighed heavily on its future course.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 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
Adjective
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During his tenure, Nelson introduced a series of organizational and liturgical changes intended to emphasize the centrality of Jesus Christ in church practice and to streamline local worship.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
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The work, which King has described as a meditation on love, resilience and inner-strength, is set to Black spirituals and Jewish liturgical music, features vocals by the great singer Lisa Fischer and a score by piano great Jason Moran, artists with whom the collab-happy King has worked before.—
Randy McMullen,
Mercury News,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The oldest trick in the book … foiled by those pesky Bravo cameras.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The next evolution of creative culture isn’t faster turnaround or cooler AI tricks.—
Rochelle Ratkaj,
Rolling Stone,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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But starting in 1970, Time and Date AS has tracked observance of daylight saving time in Kentucky every year.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
22 Oct. 2025
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Tennessee is one of multiple states that has passed legislation for year-round observance of daylight saving time.—
Diana Leyva,
Nashville Tennessean,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ritual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ritual. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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