1
as in holy
not to be violated, criticized, or tampered with
the sacred trust that exists between elected officials and the electorate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in divine
of, relating to, or being God
a sacred name that must not be uttered in vain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in religious
of, relating to, or used in the practice or worship services of a religion
a sacred chalice
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in venerated
set apart or worthy of veneration by association with God
the sacred bones of a saint
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in venerable
deserving honor and respect especially by reason of age
the alumni procession at graduation is one of the college's most sacred traditions, dating back over a hundred years
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 sacred
In times of war, it is simply forbidden to say anything that violates the general consensus—and the consensus regarding the war is sacred and immutable.
—
Uriel Kon
september 2, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
Kurokawa also pointed Koolhaas to the Ise Shrine south of Nagoya, one of the principal Shinto sacred sites.
—Anthony Paletta, Curbed, 2 Sep. 2025
One of the oldest sacred sites in Southeast Asia—Champasak’s Wat Phou, a Khmer-Hindu temple complex—is actually considered to be the blueprint for Cambodia’s Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap.
—Jack Tydeman, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2025
Today, Black Mesa is regarded as a sacred place.
—Patti Nickell, Boston Herald, 31 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sacred
Uriel Kon
september 2, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
Kurokawa also pointed Koolhaas to the Ise Shrine south of Nagoya, one of the principal Shinto sacred sites.
—Anthony Paletta, Curbed, 2 Sep. 2025
One of the oldest sacred sites in Southeast Asia—Champasak’s Wat Phou, a Khmer-Hindu temple complex—is actually considered to be the blueprint for Cambodia’s Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap.
—Jack Tydeman, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2025
Today, Black Mesa is regarded as a sacred place.
—Patti Nickell, Boston Herald, 31 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sacred
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sacred
Adjective
-
Acutis' canonization marks a deliberate Vatican effort to present contemporary, relatable holy figures who can speak to younger generations about faith lived in the digital age.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Shops sell his memorabilia — the boy's face encased in a corona of holy light is on mugs, keychains, rosaries.—
Ruth Sherlock,
NPR,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Inspired by the tradition of the divine feminine, the energetic space captivates with colors, abstract wall art and a goddess sculpture done by the dynamic sister artist duo’s mother.—
Spencer Whaley,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
There is no mention of Jove in the original Latin; that plea for divine aid in getting laid is Marlowe’s own twist of the text.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
How the courts and legislatures balance the rights of the majority and minority in these disputes over the place of the Ten Commandments in public life may go a long way toward shaping the future of religious freedom in American public education.—
Lydia Artz,
The Conversation,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Families in Florida can also seek temporary or permanent exemptions for medical or religious reasons.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Another late relative was the venerated acting teacher and founding member of the Group Theatre, Stella Adler, whose students had included Marlon Brando, Warren Beatty and Robert De Niro.—
Howard Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Aug. 2025
-
He was charged with violating a Texas law for desecration of a venerated object.—
Zachary Folk,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Parents paying is another venerable LA tradition, though one that is rectified with a chain of Venmos at a later date.—
Joe Joyce,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Ergo, the nostalgic dramedy, wherein Francis Guinan plays the titular and venerable proprietor of Phil’s TV and Radio, and Fischer plays his daughter, Sam.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Schedule in for a heavenly hammam treatment at Joali Maldives, one of just a few in the country with this traditional treatment.—
Katie Lockhart,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Here, Ne Zha 2 succeeds wildly; locales such as a heavenly city made entirely of jade and a towering, bamboo-verdant waterfall are rendered with genuinely beautiful texture and detail.—
Derek Robertson,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Tom’s final epiphany related to his estranged son isn’t earned, but not because of Ruffalo; his performance cuts a fine line between bitterly self-destructive and warmly spiritual.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Her book is a narrative of personal transformation and spiritual awakening.—
CHRISTINA MAYO,
Miami Herald,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Israeli strikes severely weakened Hezbollah – culminating in the assassination of its revered leader, Hassan Nasrallah – and significantly curtailed the group’s domestic clout.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Honda puts a techy new spin on a revered nameplate with the 2026 Prelude sport coupe, a sleek 200-horsepower hybrid going on sale late this year.—
Mark Phelan,
Freep.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sacred.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sacred. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share