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
  • In the late 1980s, its ‌founder ⁠Marcel Lefebvre consecrated four bishops without the approval of Pope John Paul II, leading those involved to be excommunicated.
    Reuters, NBC news, 5 July 2026
  • In 1988 Archbishop Lefebvre consecrated four bishops without the approval of Pope John Paul II.
    Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • The girls beamed dancing with the smiling Johnson, who honored his co-star Catherine Laga'aia (the live-action Moana) in the dance.
    Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 8 July 2026
  • Months after his sudden departure, Cora honored his pledge to donate $20,000 to The Jimmy Fund, a cancer research charity, after first baseman Willson Contreras reached 20 home runs.
    Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Verb
  • With tourists in the city almost like never before, residents celebrate the diverse walks of life.
    Zuri Primos July 12, Kansas City Star, 12 July 2026
  • Afterward, celebrating English fans sang their curiously customary victory song, Oasis’ Wonderwall.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 12 July 2026
Verb
  • Penned in partnership with Vallicelli Design studio, the newcomer is blessed with Pershing’s sporty DNA, combining a clean, contemporary silhouette with impressive performance specs.
    Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 10 July 2026
  • Paramount’s statement on Wednesday noted that regulators in numerous countries have already blessed the WBD deal.
    Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 9 July 2026
Verb
  • To say that the Union was sacred and the touchstone of democracy was to strengthen slavery by sanctifying the state that protected it.
    Dominic Erdozain, Time, 3 July 2026
  • The cruelest dimension of this is that a Christianity hijacked by the evangelical right now seeks to sanctify that mythology in the name of God.
    Otis Moss III, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2026
Verb
  • This is the final day of a six-day procession commemorating the late Khamenei and members of his family killed at the outset of the war with the United States and Israel.
    Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 9 July 2026
  • Disability Pride Month is an annual celebration observed in the United States during the month of July to commemorate the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 July 2026
Verb
  • Following Fuentes’ lead, other influencers on the far-right have also taken to questioning the Holocaust and filming videos praising Adolf Hitler, throwing Nazi salutes and singing along to antisemitic songs.
    Will Carless, USA Today, 10 July 2026
  • Bill Clinton, who was giving that day’s commencement address, praised El-Sayed in his own remarks.
    Jason Zengerle, New Yorker, 10 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Solemnize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/solemnize. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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