solemnize

Definition of solemnizenext
as in to consecrate
formal to mark (something) officially or formally especially with a religious ceremony The priest solemnized their marriage.

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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 solemnize The funeral took place in the Cambridge church where her wedding had been solemnized sixteen months earlier. Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025 Once received, the license must be solemnized with a ceremony conducted by someone recognized as having the legal power do so. Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2020 According to custom in these conservative Hindu communities, while weddings are often solemnized at very young ages, a bride typically is sent to live with her husband’s family and consummate the union in her teens. Author: Shashank Bengali, Anchorage Daily News, 24 June 2018 In one temple, an officiant claimed that his facility had solemnized 1,500 mixed marriages over the last five years. Ira Trivedi, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2013
Recent Examples of Synonyms for solemnize
Verb
  • The King’s wife, Queen Mette-Marit, is also expected to be consecrated during the ceremony.
    Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Still, there were only eight African Anglican clergy in Kenya by 1920, and the first Kenyan bishops would not be consecrated until 1955.
    Stephanie TriplettAll, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Brad Pitt sent a message to George Clooney as the Michael Clayton star was honored Wednesday at the Venice International Film Festival.
    Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Last night marked a huge milestone in the career of George Clooney, who was honored with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • With 33 seconds left in Round 9, Itauma’s trainer Ben Davison threw in the towel, leaving Hrgović to celebrate making history.
    Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Gregory Shamus/Getty Images Jenner, who just celebrated her 29th birthday on August 10, announced the non-pregnancy news in an interview with WhoWhatWear.
    Marzia Nicolini, Vanity Fair, 29 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Charlotte is blessed with a bounty of bakeries stocking fresh cakes, cupcakes, croissants and other treats to soothe your sweet tooth.
    Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Not for nothing has White Barn Inn been blessed with just about every hospitality and dining award possible—from the endless applause of regional magazines and AAA five diamond ratings to a spot on Traveler's Gold List.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Guns became sacred, and violence was increasingly justified, if not sanctified.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The church has always preached that humans are created in God’s image; by assuming the messy fragility of human form, God’s son sanctified human experience.
    Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Passports aren’t the only things being altered to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary.
    Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The bourbon is meant to commemorate the September 2 birthday of Old Forester founder George Garvin Brown, who opened the distillery in 1870.
    Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 2 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The video of the confrontation has drawn more than 64,000 likes, with many commenters praising Opperman as a small-town hero.
    Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Later, after clearing the Silo 1 control room, Victor both chastises Camille for her failures and grudgingly praises her for lying so convincingly that his biometric lie detectors couldn’t detect it.
    Noel Murray, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Solemnize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/solemnize. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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