as in sanctuaries
a place that is considered sacred (as within a religion)
for centuries pilgrims have traveled to the shrine of Saint Thomas à Becket in Canterbury, England
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Recent Examples of shrines
The hilltop structures were originally built as Catholic shrines dedicated to the virgins they're named after, but were turned into military fortresses in the early 1800s—they have since been rehabilitated for tourism.
—
Christin Parcerisa Vigueras, Travel + Leisure, 30 Apr. 2026
Depending on the season (the camp opens from May through December, when temperatures are pleasant), days fill with picnics in the mountains, visits to Buddhist festivals, or merit-making ceremonies at nearby temples and shrines.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Apr. 2026
Many of the cities targeted in the war today are home to these types of shrines, including Qom, Isfahan and Mashhad.
—Mary Thurlkill, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2026
Less celebrated for its green spaces than Kyoto, Tokyo still has an impressive number of parks that are well worth visiting, many attached to venerable temples and shrines.
—Stephen Kelly, TheWeek, 26 Mar. 2026
Many are used as shrines for meditation and rituals and are visited by tourists and pilgrims.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 24 Mar. 2026
Koreans were forced to worship at Japanese Shintō shrines and even to adopt Japanese-style names, and academic societies devoted to Korean studies as well as newspapers and magazines published in Korean were banned.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Mar. 2026
As well as hosting a range of species, many of the caves are used as shrines, or for meditation and other rituals, and are visited by tourists and pilgrims, according to the report.
—Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026
Popular routes include the Zhushan Sunrise Trail—where early risers catch a sea of clouds backlit by cherry blossoms—and forest loops connecting ponds, shrines, and scenic overlooks.
—Alexandra Gillespie, Outside, 6 Mar. 2026
Christin Parcerisa Vigueras, Travel + Leisure, 30 Apr. 2026
Depending on the season (the camp opens from May through December, when temperatures are pleasant), days fill with picnics in the mountains, visits to Buddhist festivals, or merit-making ceremonies at nearby temples and shrines.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Apr. 2026
Many of the cities targeted in the war today are home to these types of shrines, including Qom, Isfahan and Mashhad.
—Mary Thurlkill, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2026
Less celebrated for its green spaces than Kyoto, Tokyo still has an impressive number of parks that are well worth visiting, many attached to venerable temples and shrines.
—Stephen Kelly, TheWeek, 26 Mar. 2026
Many are used as shrines for meditation and rituals and are visited by tourists and pilgrims.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 24 Mar. 2026
Koreans were forced to worship at Japanese Shintō shrines and even to adopt Japanese-style names, and academic societies devoted to Korean studies as well as newspapers and magazines published in Korean were banned.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Mar. 2026
As well as hosting a range of species, many of the caves are used as shrines, or for meditation and other rituals, and are visited by tourists and pilgrims, according to the report.
—Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026
Popular routes include the Zhushan Sunrise Trail—where early risers catch a sea of clouds backlit by cherry blossoms—and forest loops connecting ponds, shrines, and scenic overlooks.
—Alexandra Gillespie, Outside, 6 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrines
sanctuaries
Noun
-
Art beckons at Rothko Chapel and The Menil Collection, quiet sanctuaries where light, color, and contemplation merge.—
Carrie Honaker,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
1 May 2026
-
Initiatives decades ago saw all surviving birds of some species moved onto offshore, predator-free islands or into sanctuaries where they could be carefully monitored and protected, but where few New Zealanders would ever see one.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shrines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrines. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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