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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of shrines
Iran’s Shia shrines already draw millions of pilgrims from Muslim countries.
—
Arash Azizi, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
There are no shrines to Lobotka in the style of those dedicated to Maradona.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Tradition at Yasu Omakase includes the counter itself, a 600-year-old hinoki counter, which is carved from wood usually reserved for Japanese temples and shrines.
—Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Or incorporate rope and hemp, which Yoshida says can commonly be found in Shinto shrines.
—Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Jan. 2026
Or for those who want a taste of a quieter more local Kyoto, electric biycles are available for exploring the neighbourhood’s tranquil lanes, lined with traditional food makers, temples and shrines.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
These schools are a far cry from the storied institutions that play in college basketball shrines like Cameron Indoor Stadium or Pauley Pavilion, or capture the nation’s attention during the annual March Madness tournaments.
—David K. Li, NBC news, 17 Jan. 2026
Far from the neon lights of Tokyo, temples and shrines of Kyoto and the Osaka street food scene is Okinawa, Japan’s southernmost — and westernmost — prefecture.
—Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 16 Jan. 2026
From the facade crafted from hinoki wood, a rare cypress that’s often reserved for Japanese temples and shrines, to impressive cultural programming and exhibitions, there’s always something worth seeing.
—Jade Moyano, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
Arash Azizi, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
There are no shrines to Lobotka in the style of those dedicated to Maradona.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Tradition at Yasu Omakase includes the counter itself, a 600-year-old hinoki counter, which is carved from wood usually reserved for Japanese temples and shrines.
—Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Or incorporate rope and hemp, which Yoshida says can commonly be found in Shinto shrines.
—Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Jan. 2026
Or for those who want a taste of a quieter more local Kyoto, electric biycles are available for exploring the neighbourhood’s tranquil lanes, lined with traditional food makers, temples and shrines.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
These schools are a far cry from the storied institutions that play in college basketball shrines like Cameron Indoor Stadium or Pauley Pavilion, or capture the nation’s attention during the annual March Madness tournaments.
—David K. Li, NBC news, 17 Jan. 2026
Far from the neon lights of Tokyo, temples and shrines of Kyoto and the Osaka street food scene is Okinawa, Japan’s southernmost — and westernmost — prefecture.
—Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 16 Jan. 2026
From the facade crafted from hinoki wood, a rare cypress that’s often reserved for Japanese temples and shrines, to impressive cultural programming and exhibitions, there’s always something worth seeing.
—Jade Moyano, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrines
sanctuaries
Noun
-
Coral planting in Costa Rica, women’s empowerment projects in Morocco, artisan preservation in Japan and Sweden, and elephant sanctuaries in Botswana are embedded into itineraries.—
Daniel Scheffler,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
In keeping with the wellness-first atmosphere, the bathrooms are true sanctuaries carved from limestone and slate, with custom products infused with local lemon, lady’s mantle, and edelweiss.—
Jackie Caradonio,
Travel + Leisure,
19 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shrines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrines. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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