Thesaurus results for RITUALS

rituals

noun

plural of ritual

as in habits

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

as in ceremonies

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

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 rituals These are objects of belonging that signal specific cultural moments, rituals and aesthetics, and many young people today are starting to experience them for the first time. — Rotem Rozental, Fortune, 14 July 2026 That means obvious things, like medication, feeding, and potty breaks, but also details like favorite toys, spots to be scratched, and other small rituals your pet looks forward to every day. — Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026 To be sure, the Norwegians are not alone in broadcasting their rituals during this FIFA World Cup. — Julia Dhar, Time, 11 July 2026 The appeal lies in easy rituals—the kayak pulled from beneath the deck, the line cast before breakfast, children diving from the dock. — Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 Self-mortifying pamagdarame rituals, including whipping and crucifixion, likewise have roots in medieval Christian tradition. — H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 10 July 2026 Complete strangers become confidants, newcomers are entrusted with the secret rituals of the forest (like shouting for the always elusive Carl), and trading trinkets and kandi is the reigning social currency. — Taryn Valentine, SPIN, 10 July 2026 Here’s a breakdown of which rituals have real evidence behind them, which are useful extras and how to start this week. — Allison Palmer july 9, Miami Herald, 9 July 2026 The monicker is an apparent nod to Stonehenge, an ancient British monument which may have acted as a solar calendar and was the likely site of ancient rituals celebrating the solstice. — Sanidhya Sharma, Scientific American, 7 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rituals

Noun

The list-ification of the few remaining major outlets for literary criticism troubles even its purveyors while a generation of readers has come up on Goodreads and learned the worst habits of critical thinking (or the lack thereof) from it.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026
Tenet is a collection of Nolan’s most frustrating habits cranked to 11 — from an oppressive soundscape that eclipses dialogue, to stylish yet flat characters, to a narrative that’s confusingly twisty to the point of contortion.

— James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2026

Definition of habits

Noun

The state offers additional education and resources through UConn Extension to help farmers understand the rule and maintain good agricultural practices.

— Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 18 July 2026
Proponents say open-source practices promote innovation, while critics warn that making powerful AI models publicly accessible poses safety and security dangers.

— Matt O'Brien, Fortune, 18 July 2026

Definition of practices

Noun

Sinon also told Odysseus the fallen Ithacan soldiers were unable to rest because they weren’t honored with proper Greek warrior funeral rites.

— Tanya Fedak, Variety, 18 July 2026
Some claimed that Buddhists, like Asians generally, were passive and lazy, and that their religious rites reflected a dull, monotonous approach to life.

— Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 7 July 2026

Definition of rites

Noun

Over time, Muharram observances became woven into civic and cultural life across parts of the region, where some Hindus participated as musicians in processions and others crafted tazias.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 June 2026
Handler and his son will not attend any five year memorial observances.

— Marisa Peñaloza, NPR, 24 June 2026

Definition of observances

Noun

Then Nicolas Tagliafico, a poor defender up against a great attacker in Lamine Yamal, took to attempting to foul the winger in four different ways at once, but most unpleasantly grazed his studs down Yamal’s calf.

— Adam Crafton, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Japanese festivals often serve as ways for deities to be brought into the streets for sacred or ritual purposes while also bringing communities together in celebration.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 July 2026

Definition of ways

Browse Nearby Words

ritualistic

rituals

ritziness

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Rituals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rituals. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of rituals

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on rituals

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

raffish

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes