SACRED Synonyms: 118 Similar and Opposite Words

sacred

adjective

ˈsā-krəd

Definition of sacred

as in holy

not to be violated, criticized, or tampered with the sacred trust that exists between elected officials and the electorate

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in divine

of, relating to, or being God a sacred name that must not be uttered in vain

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as in religious

of, relating to, or used in the practice or worship services of a religion a sacred chalice

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as in venerated

set apart or worthy of veneration by association with God the sacred bones of a saint

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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

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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 The claim was strongly denied by the Houthis, who follow the Zaydi branch of Shiite Islam and also revere Mecca as a sacred city. — Eyad Kourdi, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2026 As sirens went off over Riyadh and the Eastern Province, people in the Hejaz assumed no one would dare approach what all Muslims deem sacred. — Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2026 This is now the third attempt to deface this sacred memorial and turn it into a vanity project for one man’s ego. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2026 This public park has a rich history that includes a sacred Native American burial ground, the Underground Railroad and military training. — Elaine Rojas-Castillo, CBS News, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sacred

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sacred

Adjective

As well as being a holy site, Lourdes attracts around 3 million pilgrims a year, including approximately 60,000 sick and disabled pilgrims.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026
This holy consciousness recognizes the entirely spiritual nature of reality, which is the eternal truth that links the Bible to Christian Science.

— The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of holy

Adjective

Our go-tos are the classic pepperoni and the hot sausage with brown butter sage (divine, truly).

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Sep. 2026
Cinny Biscuits At The Bake Shop and Cafe in Cleveland, Shawnda Moye offers the Cinny, a warm cinnamon roll-meets-biscuit that somehow becomes more divine when paired with a cup of hot chocolate or coffee.

— Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of divine

Adjective

Still, Beck didn’t seem to want to talk, in private or in the media, about having grown up as the child of a successful music-industry hustler — much less one who was so proudly and publicly involved with a controversial religious movement.

— Josephine Reisman, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026
Researching religious-art theft, Gurrea came across Erik the Belgian, a notorious thief who targeted churches across Spain during the 20th century.

— Callum McLennan, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of religious

Adjective

The site remains a venerated Buddhist shrine used for local worship.

— Jack Tydeman, Travel + Leisure, 26 July 2026
On the night of June 15, a Russian drone directly hit the most venerated site for Ukraine’s majority Orthodox Christians, and indeed for much of Eastern Christendom.

— The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 26 June 2026

Definition of venerated

Adjective

To mark the occasion, here is our definitive guide to the historic workshops, venerable dining rooms, and fashion houses that give the Galleria its life.

— Eleonora Giordani, Vogue, 17 Sep. 2026
This folktale opens by describing a venerable old farming family whose only daughter has just married.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of venerable

Adjective

Stop at downtown Guerneville for a heavenly buttermilk biscuit at Piknik Town Market.

— Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 21 Sep. 2026
Set on the edge of the Village of Lindos, the heavenly parcel and its glass-like waters are nearly encased by rocks with stretches of smooth sand on either side.

— Jennifer Tzeses, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of heavenly

Adjective

Could Kleist’s conjecture provide a key to their seeming vacancy, their resignation, their helplessness, suggesting that in their benighted condition lies spiritual perfection?

— Matthew McLean, Artforum, 22 Sep. 2026
The novel seems poised to address the spiritual effect of competitive private schooling on the Kohs’ inner lives as well as the sociopolitics of education.

— Sanjena Sathian, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of spiritual

Adjective

For seventeen years, graduation season had carried a liturgical cadence for him.

— Benjamin Wofford, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
Paintings, liturgical objects and the clothes of a notable 18th century Spanish count were among the other items removed from the monastery.

— Angela Charlton, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026