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

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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
The monumental church was consecrated in 2011 and is modeled on St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. —Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 22 Apr. 2026 Many Pentecostals, for example, fast for a period in January to consecrate the year ahead. —ABC News, 16 Feb. 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 Azteca stadium — Mexico’s most iconic sporting venue and a holy site for football fans around the globe — reopened in March after two years of renovation work.
    — Jack Lang, New York Times, 11 June 2026
  • In addition to sweet basil, there are many varieties of basil, including Thai, lemon, holy, opal, and spicy globe, and lemon basil, which offer exciting flavor differences.
    — Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 June 2026
Definition of holy
Verb
  • Don’t be fooled by the small entryway; the position of the building lends itself to dedicating the floors above the lobby to the real scenery.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 June 2026
  • The 28-year-old quarterback has dedicated much of the offseason to tweaking his footwork — putting his left foot in front of his right from the shotgun, against traditional NFL form — to fit Los Angeles’ new offensive coordinator’s scheme.
    — Joaquin Ruiz, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2026
Definition of dedicate
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
Definition of bless
Adjective
  • At best, Venus in Leo reminds us that our pleasure is sacred, and self-confidence is attractive.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026
  • The Skinnylicious menu is a sacred text and could be the key to world peace, along with fast food, tailgating, and megastores — all things that are a part of everyday American life but are being fully embraced by tourists visiting for the first time.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 17 June 2026
Definition of sacred
Verb
  • Their biggest clash of all is over a ballot measure sponsored by SEIU-UHW that would levy a 5% tax on the wealth of California’s roughly 200 billionaires and devote nearly all of its revenue to propping up health care.
    — Dan Walters, Mercury News, 16 June 2026
  • Kawar has devoted much of her life to documenting, collecting, and showcasing embroidered clothing, jewellery, and objects of daily life from settlements across West Asia.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 16 June 2026
Definition of devote
Adjective
  • The consecrated land is leased in perpetuity to the British Royal Navy, who participate in an annual ceremony to commemorate the lives lost.
    — Caroline Eubanks, Travel + Leisure, 22 May 2026
  • The group, which celebrates the pre-Vatican II Latin Mass, first broke with Rome in 1988, after its founder, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, consecrated four bishops without papal consent.
    — Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 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 19 Jun. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on consecrate

Nglish: Translation of consecrate for Spanish Speakers

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