DEDICATE Synonyms: 26 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'dedicate' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of dedicate are consecrate , devote , and hallow . While all these words mean "to set apart for a special and often higher end," dedicate implies solemn and exclusive devotion to a sacred or serious use or purpose. // dedicated her life to medical research

Q: Where would 'consecrate' be a reasonable alternative to 'dedicate'?

The synonyms consecrate and dedicate are sometimes interchangeable, but consecrate stresses investment with a solemn or sacred quality. // consecrate a church to the worship of God

Q: When might 'devote' be a better fit than 'dedicate'?

Although the words devote and dedicate have much in common, devote is likely to imply compelling motives and often attachment to an objective. // devoted his evenings to study

Q: In what contexts can 'hallow' take the place of 'dedicate'?

While in some cases nearly identical to dedicate , hallow , often differing little from dedicate or consecrate , may distinctively imply an attribution of intrinsic sanctity. // battlegrounds hallowed by the blood of patriots

dedicate

verb

ˈde-di-ˌkāt

Definition of dedicate

as in to devote

to keep or intend for a special purpose a young attorney who has decided to dedicate her career to helping the poor receive justice

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How does the verb dedicate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of dedicate are consecrate, devote, and hallow. While all these words mean "to set apart for a special and often higher end," dedicate implies solemn and exclusive devotion to a sacred or serious use or purpose.

dedicated her life to medical research

Where would consecrate be a reasonable alternative to dedicate?

The synonyms consecrate and dedicate are sometimes interchangeable, but consecrate stresses investment with a solemn or sacred quality.

consecrate a church to the worship of God

When might devote be a better fit than dedicate?

Although the words devote and dedicate have much in common, devote is likely to imply compelling motives and often attachment to an objective.

devoted his evenings to study

In what contexts can hallow take the place of dedicate?

While in some cases nearly identical to dedicate, hallow, often differing little from dedicate or consecrate, may distinctively imply an attribution of intrinsic sanctity.

battlegrounds hallowed by the blood of patriots

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 dedicate During the hearing, her attorney maintained that Lackard has dedicated her career to helping others. — Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026 Kay dedicated her life to serving North Texas and our country with integrity, humility, and unwavering commitment. — Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Aug. 2026 Sudbury had grown frustrated seeing so many people dedicate themselves to changing their lives but still fail to secure housing or work once background checks were run. — Andrea Hsu, NPR, 3 Aug. 2026 Finding answers requires stable and sustained funding and support for the researchers who dedicate their lives to this work. — Christopher Campos, STAT, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dedicate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dedicate

Verb

With the accompanying string of tropical nights, state media has devoted unusual attention to the hottest weeks of the year, known locally as sambok, or the dog days of summer.

— Reuters, NBC news, 7 Aug. 2026
Reddit has nearly 30 communities devoted specifically to Reta, including country-specific forums, groups for men and women and communities focused on results or trial data.

— Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of devote

Verb

Tom Holland‘s Peter Parker made the difficult decision to erase his identity from the world in order to save the multiverse, leaving his girlfriend (Zendaya) and best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon) to forget about him.

— Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 2 Aug. 2026
The most obvious drawback is that the program doesn’t save money for New Yorkers overall.

— Shawn Tully, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of save

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decussating

dedicate

dedicated

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“Dedicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dedicate. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of dedicate

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