Thesaurus results for FORMALITIES

formalities

noun

plural of formality

as in courtesies

an act or utterance that is a customary show of good manners bowing to your guest is a formality you don't need to perform for me

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as in rituals

an oft-repeated action or series of actions performed in accordance with tradition or a set of rules churchgoers loved the formalities of a traditional Christmas Eve candlelight service

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 formalities Arfsten is expected to travel in the coming days to complete the move, pending formalities, sources say. — Tom Bogert, New York Times, 31 July 2026 During the 2000s, Villa Certosa became a global catalyst of international political discussion, while remaining at a comfortable remove from the protocols and formalities of the traditional places of government. — Mattia Ferraresi, Air Mail, 18 July 2026 Gerrymandering makes many general elections little more than formalities. — J.c. Polanco, New York Daily News, 17 July 2026 The bodies of the victims were being transported to Ho Chi Minh City before being flown to India after official formalities, according to the embassy. — CBS News, 13 July 2026 There’s no swanky reception desk, no concierge in pristine uniform, no formalities at all in fact. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 June 2026 Inspired by the most recent decade of killings of unarmed Black men by police, the seven prints selected from Henry’s series draw upon the sculptural pathos and solemn formalities of Michelangelo’s Pietà di San Pietro. — Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026 The soldier said he was struck by how little emphasis was placed on rigid formalities that had defined his previous unit — from strict dress codes to repetitive routines unrelated to combat. — ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026 But in a time when formalities are an increasingly rare occurrence, and most beach resorts embrace flip-flops and athleisure—comfy, yes, but not polished or classy—the Gasparilla Inn’s insistence on dressing up is refreshingly civilized, if a bit old-fashioned. — Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for formalities

Noun

Small courtesies keep big efforts moving forward.

— Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 15 Mar. 2026
With both courtesies and catastrophes refusing to conform, the canton’s school board, publishers, and clergy were forced to produce multiple editions of primers, textbooks, and catechisms; sometimes five parallel print runs were needed for a population the size of a town.

— Simon Akam, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025

Definition of courtesies

Noun

That idea may be resonating at a moment when consumers are increasingly looking for rituals, not just another capsule to add to an already crowded supplement routine.

— Karin Eldor, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Archwell Productions partnered with Beautiful Stories and AJNA Films on the doc about one of America’s most cherished rituals, Girl Scout Cookie season.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of rituals

Noun

That is a decision made at a moment when its cash flow leaves very little room for gestures.

— Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
The broken line, the hard scar of the dash—these are gestures toward the uncertain and intractable distance between self and other, presence and absence, ‘awareness’ and its loss.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of gestures

Noun

Iran’s government holds annual formal ceremonies in Tehran to honor their memory.

— Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
Then, the following spring, she and Louis were paired up for the formal ceremonies surrounding the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla, as George was serving as a page.

— Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of ceremonies

Noun

Emergency workers brought out a coffin and loaded it onto an ambulance, which will transport them to their hometown for funeral rites.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
Pentheus, for his part, is curious to witness his mother under the spell of Bacchic rites, and this curiosity results in his death at the hands of Agave, unable to recognize her own son due to her Dionysian frenzy.

— Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 31 July 2026

Definition of rites

Noun

Rabbi Josh Joseph of the Orthodox Union said many Jewish religious practices are tied to sunrise and sunset, which determine prayer times and observances.

— Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 9 Aug. 2026
Over time, Muharram observances became woven into civic and cultural life across parts of the region, where some Hindus participated as musicians in processions and others crafted tazias.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 June 2026

Definition of observances

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formalities

formality

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“Formalities.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/formalities. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of formalities

noun

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