1
as in pious
showing a devotion to God and to a life of virtue
the holy monk spent many hours on his knees in prayer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sacred
set apart or worthy of veneration by association with God
the Torah contains the holy writings of Judaism
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in divine
of, relating to, or being God
the Holy Trinity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in pure
not to be violated, criticized, or tampered with
the hour every Saturday she listens to her radio program is holy and you'd better not make her miss it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 holy
Laylat Al-Qadr is the holiest night of Ramadan.
—
Jordan Green, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 10 Feb. 2026
Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, observed with fasting, prayer and selflessness.
—Lianna Norman, Florida Times-Union, 5 Feb. 2026
The victim was an accomplished Torah scholar, who would sometimes recite verses of holy scripture for cash, a friend of the victim’s told the Daily News.
—Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2026
What are your favorite holy-grail Lancôme products?
—Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for holy
Jordan Green, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 10 Feb. 2026
Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, observed with fasting, prayer and selflessness.
—Lianna Norman, Florida Times-Union, 5 Feb. 2026
The victim was an accomplished Torah scholar, who would sometimes recite verses of holy scripture for cash, a friend of the victim’s told the Daily News.
—Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2026
What are your favorite holy-grail Lancôme products?
—Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for holy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holy
Adjective
-
Singh, who would be our local guide, always wore the five traits of a pious Sikh man — uncut hair (symbolizing strength and holiness and topped by the identifying turban), a steel bracelet, wooden comb, sheathed dagger and a baggy undergarment dating back to the Sikhs’ warrior days on horses.—
Norma Meyer,
Oc Register,
4 Feb. 2026
-
In the old days, when Muslims had a great civilization, their smart and pious people also got paid for being smart and pious.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The monks practiced Vipassana meditation throughout, intentionally walking 108 sacred days — a number representing spiritual completion and wholeness in Buddhist, Hindu and Jain traditions.—
Tiffany Stanley,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Priestesses once kept a sacred flame burning there day and night, believed to represent the life force of the city.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The venue itself is sexy and luxurious, and the food is, in a word, divine.—
Kelsey Stiegman,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Feb. 2026
-
According to the Dera, Singh’s ascent to power is a story of divine anointment.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Some religious communities bar menstruating women from common living areas, said Ahsan.—
Sana Noor Haq,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The measure would allow some exemptions, including for officers involved in undercover operations and SWAT duties or who are wearing religious garb.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Epiphany celebrates the appearance of the Magi (Wise Men) to the newborn Jesus and marks the end of the liturgical season of Christmas.—
Alex Driggars,
Austin American Statesman,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Ash Wednesday is the first day of the liturgical season of Lent, which falls 6½ weeks before Easter each year.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
2 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Sold to Menemsha, genuinely tense and gorgeously shot, highlighting the heavenly mountains and a historical hell.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Anna Kournikova and Enrique Iglesias sparked engagement rumors when she was spotted on the court wearing this heavenly, 11-carat pink diamond.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Born in 1967 to a devout Sikh family, he was involved in Dera Sacha Sauda from a young age.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Schemmel, a devout Christian, has done charitable work for decades, ever since that awful day in July 1989 when 112 people died in a fiery crash of United Airlines Flight 232 in Sioux City, Iowa.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
British talk show host Graham Norton, who has had Swift as a guest on his program, claimed to have garnered an invite to the blessed event.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Ayatollah Khamenei personally ‘blessed’ Nouri al-Maliki’s nomination.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holy. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
