consecrate 1 of 2

adjective

ˈkän(t)-sə-ˌkrāt How to pronounce consecrate (audio)
Definition of consecratenext
as in holy
set apart or worthy of veneration by association with God the consecrate gold tablets which Joseph Smith claimed to have found

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

consecrate

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to dedicate
to keep or intend for a special purpose a philanthropist who consecrated his considerable fortune to an array of charitable causes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to bless
to make holy through prayers or ritual plans to consecrate the altar in the new church with great ceremony

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb consecrate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of consecrate are dedicate, devote, and hallow. While all these words mean "to set apart for a special and often higher end," consecrate stresses investment with a solemn or sacred quality.

consecrate a church to the worship of God

When can dedicate be used instead of consecrate?

While the synonyms dedicate and consecrate are close in meaning, dedicate implies solemn and exclusive devotion to a sacred or serious use or purpose.

dedicated her life to medical research

When would devote be a good substitute for consecrate?

The meanings of devote and consecrate largely overlap; however, devote is likely to imply compelling motives and often attachment to an objective.

devoted his evenings to study

When is it sensible to use hallow instead of consecrate?

In some situations, the words hallow and consecrate are roughly equivalent. However, 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 consecrate
Adjective
Lana Del Rey doesn’t toy with signs—of American glamour and its decay, of female melancholia and racial desire—so much as consecrate them. — Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2023
Verb
But yesterday, the group defied Pope Leo XIV by consecrating four bishops without his approval. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 2 July 2026 Lefebvre consecrated four bishops without papal consent in 1988. — Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for consecrate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for consecrate
  1. holy
  2. dedicate
  3. bless
  4. sacred
  5. devote
  6. consecrated
Adjective
  • The arson attacks highlight a surge in settler violence, mounting criticism of Netanyahu’s government and global calls — including from the Vatican — to protect holy sites and avert wider conflict.
    — Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2026
  • Southern Paiutes will still hold Grand Staircase as the holy land where the Creator placed them.
    — Kerri J. Malloy, The Conversation, 23 July 2026
Definition of holy
Verb
  • This presents an opportunity for colleges and universities to dedicate more resources toward understanding and improving the off-campus student experience.
    — Kyle Brody, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Marcus is creating and starring in a Channel 4 Blap titled F**k Ups, about a teen, Miracle June Jones, who has dedicated her entire existence to greatness.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 29 July 2026
Definition of dedicate
Verb
  • Jon asks, suggesting a name and/or laying the groundwork for his priest father to come and bless the child.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 31 July 2026
  • One of her most significant feats was leading a team of artists over the course of a decade to illustrate a massive New Testament Bible written by hand in the Old Georgian language — an endeavor blessed by the Georgian Patriarch himself.
    — The Editors of ARTnews, ARTnews.com, 28 July 2026
Definition of bless
Adjective
  • This place has a mysterious spiritual atmosphere, shaped by the idea of sacred cosmic energy and stories of warriors who gained supernatural powers through intense training.
    — Shivani Vora, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Delta musicians also often used call-and-response patterns, which were common in African music and were used in other blues styles and in African American sacred music, including spirituals.
    — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026
Definition of sacred
Verb
  • If writing a 10-page proposal yields $30,000 in capital faster than closing 50 cold calls, a rational business owner will devote their afternoons to proposal writing.
    — AllBusiness, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Last year the Norwegian podcast The Burning of the Midnight Amp devoted an episode to Whomp That Sucker.
    — Al Shipley, SPIN, 31 July 2026
Definition of devote
Adjective
  • Beside the three-story, 9-bed, 11-bath, 1,900-square-meter (20,450 square feet) main property sit good houses for the gardener, the caretaker, various garages, even a small consecrated church.
    — Nielsen Dinwoodie, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • The excommunication applies to the newly consecrated bishops, any SSPX priest and anyone who formally adheres to the society.
    — Emily Broyles, Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2026
Definition of consecrated

Browse Nearby Words

conscripts
consecrate
consecrated
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Cite this Entry

“Consecrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/consecrate. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on consecrate

Nglish: Translation of consecrate for Spanish Speakers

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