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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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
Lee signs bill allowing officiants to decline to perform marriages
Lee quietly signed into law a bill allowing officiants to decline to solemnize marriages for any reason, which has been criticized by the LGBTQ community as antagonistic.
—Vivian Jones, The Tennessean, 3 Feb. 2025
The vows were solemnized by Hunter S. Thompson who was an ordained minister.
—Rory Feehan, SPIN, 9 Nov. 2023
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
Paper can also help us with solemnizing our transactions — making them official.
—David Scharfenberg, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Apr. 2018
There is no marker to solemnize the death of the Spurs' unmatched dynasty: RIP 1997-2017.
—Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 11 Feb. 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
Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Lee signs bill allowing officiants to decline to perform marriages
Lee quietly signed into law a bill allowing officiants to decline to solemnize marriages for any reason, which has been criticized by the LGBTQ community as antagonistic.
—Vivian Jones, The Tennessean, 3 Feb. 2025
The vows were solemnized by Hunter S. Thompson who was an ordained minister.
—Rory Feehan, SPIN, 9 Nov. 2023
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
Paper can also help us with solemnizing our transactions — making them official.
—David Scharfenberg, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Apr. 2018
There is no marker to solemnize the death of the Spurs' unmatched dynasty: RIP 1997-2017.
—Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 11 Feb. 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
-
By visiting the Basilica and blessing the new tower, the pope follows in the footsteps of Pope Benedict XVI who in 2010 consecrated the Sagrada Familia.—
Christopher Lamb,
CNN Money,
10 June 2026
-
Leo will formally consecrate the tower on Wednesday night.—
Joseph Wilson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
The Great Hall at the CBS Philadelphia studios was buzzing all day as an army of volunteers took donations and honored the memory of Alex Scott, the little girl who started it all.—
CBS News Philadelphia Staff,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
-
Super Bowl win, which came days after such a parade honored the Apollo 8 astronauts ‘ historic orbit around the moon.—
Jennifer Peltz,
Fortune,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
The New York Knicks have received and accepted an invitation to visit the White House to celebrate their NBA championship, owner James Dolan confirmed Wednesday.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
-
The whole crew, minus Jason, who can’t bend his knee, and Lacy, who needs a whole day to get to an airport owned by John Wayne, goes to Punta Mita, Mexico, to celebrate the birthdays of Schwartz, Zack, and Danny.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
Disclosure Day depicts the gradual unmasking of a grand conspiracy, through the perspective of alien abductees blessed with otherworldly abilities.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
-
Between 2020 and 2023, I was blessed with two trips to Prentice Women’s Hospital for the birth of my two children and had the misfortune of making several urgent trips to Lurie’s Children’s Hospital.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
When a couple marry in a church, synagogue or mosque, the ceremony does more than sanctify a union.—
Peter McGraw,
The Conversation,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Like much of the first half of the episode, before the plane crash, this gala sequence is shot in silky gold colors, as if John and Carolyn had already been sanctified.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Community members also mourned Robert Dee’s loss, commemorating his impact.—
Reeti Malhotra,
Sacbee.com,
18 June 2026
-
The project, the National Garden of American Heroes, is slated to feature 250 statues of historical figures from America’s past who have contributed to the nation's cultural, scientific, economic, and political heritage, commemorating the 250th anniversary of America’s independence.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Domingo praises Spielberg as a collaborator.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
13 June 2026
-
Tend details gently, and praise small consistent gains.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Solemnize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/solemnize. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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