1
as in to purge
to free from moral guilt or blemish especially ceremonially
received the sacrament of penance, whereby they were sanctified and restored to divine grace
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2
as in to bless
to make holy through prayers or ritual
sanctify the bread for Communion
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Recent Examples of sanctify
In Kahane’s theology, Jewish weakness was the sacrilege, and Jewish strength sanctified God.
—
Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 30 May 2025
G‑d’s purpose in creating the world was that all of creation be sanctified, imbuing it with holiness and spirituality.
—Rabbi Moishe Kievman, Sun Sentinel, 20 May 2025
His magnetic, restrained performance gives flesh to this mythical character, without ever sanctifying him.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 9 May 2025
In the West, she’s been sanctified, but also portrayed as a sinner, a nun, a mystic, and Jesus’ wife.
—Eliza Griswold, New Yorker, 19 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sanctify
Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 30 May 2025
G‑d’s purpose in creating the world was that all of creation be sanctified, imbuing it with holiness and spirituality.
—Rabbi Moishe Kievman, Sun Sentinel, 20 May 2025
His magnetic, restrained performance gives flesh to this mythical character, without ever sanctifying him.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 9 May 2025
In the West, she’s been sanctified, but also portrayed as a sinner, a nun, a mystic, and Jesus’ wife.
—Eliza Griswold, New Yorker, 19 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sanctify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanctify
Verb
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Violence and vitriol must be purged from the public square.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Sep. 2025
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Unless the Heat releases Terry Rozier or purges some other salary in a trade, Miami would not have enough space to sign a 15th player to a standard contract — and remain under the luxury tax line — until December.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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And may God bless the United States of America.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
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It is blessed with a huge territory, a dynamic economy and the strategic luxury of large oceans on its east and west and much smaller powers to its north and south.—
John Rennie Short,
The Conversation,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Hadid designed a rainwater collection and a water management system, which stores and purifies water from local wetlands and helps prevent flooding.—
Mae Hamilton,
AFAR Media,
9 Sep. 2025
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Playing the character, much like Alicent Hightower in her stubbornness and strength, has been something of a purifying experience for Cooke.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Some of these caves have fireplaces, and some were consecrated and used as churches, known as rupestre.—
Aileen Weintraub,
Smithsonian Magazine,
23 July 2025
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And so, next door to the photo booth where Nic and Cierra consecrated their mutual vibe, cowgirl style, Hannah climbs onto Pepe’s muscular thighs and gets a little cowgirl make-out of her own.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
18 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sanctify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sanctify. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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