SACRED Synonyms: 118 Similar and Opposite Words

sacred

adjective

ˈsā-krəd

Definition of sacred

as in holy

not to be violated, criticized, or tampered with the sacred trust that exists between elected officials and the electorate

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as in divine

of, relating to, or being God a sacred name that must not be uttered in vain

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as in religious

of, relating to, or used in the practice or worship services of a religion a sacred chalice

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as in venerated

set apart or worthy of veneration by association with God the sacred bones of a saint

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as in venerable

deserving honor and respect especially by reason of age the alumni procession at graduation is one of the college's most sacred traditions, dating back over a hundred years

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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 sacred While Western climbers regard Everest as a peak to be conquered, Tenzing reveres it as a sacred mother goddess. — Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026 Part of the healing was contained in the sacred fire area, circled by cedar boughs, and open to the east. — Gregory Harutunian, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 Guns became sacred, and violence was increasingly justified, if not sanctified. — Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2026 Those born during the year of the monkey can place a flag or paper decorated with the monkey symbol on or around a sacred structure inside the temple hall. — Brooke Schedneck, The Conversation, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sacred

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sacred

Adjective

Especially when, during a timeless, holy ritual, your daughter starts rocking out in front of the congregation.

— Risa Polansky Shiman, Sun Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026
Far-right extremists are even encouraging Jewish-Arab violence atop the Temple Mount, the most sacred site in Judaism and the third holiest in Islam, which could ignite anti-Israel religious violence and terrorism in the region.

— Trudy Rubin, Twin Cities, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of holy

Adjective

The editor of the journal Kayhan, Hossein Shariatmadari, wrote that enforcement is both a legal obligation and a religious duty for officials.

— Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
Whether to use the stations is a private choice, and any individual may use the facilities for either a secular or religious purpose.

— Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of religious

Adjective

The site remains a venerated Buddhist shrine used for local worship.

— Jack Tydeman, Travel + Leisure, 26 July 2026
On the night of June 15, a Russian drone directly hit the most venerated site for Ukraine’s majority Orthodox Christians, and indeed for much of Eastern Christendom.

— The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 26 June 2026

Definition of venerated

Adjective

The venerable company Sea Doo had just announced a new version of its popular Spark model, this one with an X after it.

— Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Its name was inspired by the New York hotel, deemed venerable enough to give the new outfit some heft, and its first swing at a leveraged buyout was for Chi-Chi’s, the Mexican restaurant chain, in 1987.

— Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of venerable

Adjective

The story seems a spiritual festival on the German-Polish border become an ensemble dramedy about healing and reinvention.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2026
But Watts, who is well-versed in gnosticism — an esoteric, religious philosophy that places emphasis on the spiritual realm and obtaining wisdom about oneself — seemed to have had a profound impact on McCollough’s worldview.

— Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of spiritual

Adjective

Paintings, liturgical objects and the clothes of a notable 18th century Spanish count were among the other items removed from the monastery.

— Angela Charlton, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
The Cupichs attended a parish where mass was celebrated in Latin (the liturgical changes of the Second Vatican Council were yet to come) but the sermons were spoken in Croatian.

— René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 July 2026