as in ritual
an oft-repeated action or series of actions performed in accordance with tradition or a set of rules
the annual summer rite of loading up the car for the big family vacation
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Recent Examples of rite
Pope Francis angered traditionalists by restricting the old rite in 2021.
—
Christopher Hale, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 May 2025
The Bishop of Des Moines asked the Roman Catholic priest to conduct the rite of exorcism on 46-year-old Emma Schmidt (played by Abigail Cowen) in Earling, Iowa.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 6 June 2025
The Eleusinian Mysteries, the annual rite honoring Demeter that was performed in Greece for nearly two thousand years, climaxed with the consumption of a potion called the kykeon, which was said to give participants visions of the afterlife and enable them to commune with their ancestors.
—Michael Pollan, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
Towns all over Spain developed festival rites that included different versions of the bull runs and often ended with men fighting the finest animals, with matadors in ornate, tightly fitting outfits taking to plazas on horseback and on foot.
—Tony Perrottet, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for rite
Christopher Hale, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 May 2025
The Bishop of Des Moines asked the Roman Catholic priest to conduct the rite of exorcism on 46-year-old Emma Schmidt (played by Abigail Cowen) in Earling, Iowa.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 6 June 2025
The Eleusinian Mysteries, the annual rite honoring Demeter that was performed in Greece for nearly two thousand years, climaxed with the consumption of a potion called the kykeon, which was said to give participants visions of the afterlife and enable them to commune with their ancestors.
—Michael Pollan, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
Towns all over Spain developed festival rites that included different versions of the bull runs and often ended with men fighting the finest animals, with matadors in ornate, tightly fitting outfits taking to plazas on horseback and on foot.
—Tony Perrottet, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for rite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rite
Noun
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By making this a daily ritual for babies, parents can reap the benefits as well.—
Michelle Stansbury,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
-
Wilson reportedly collapsed after being punched in the chest during a fraternity ritual.—
DeMicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
21 July 2025
Noun
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Cuban will be honored at a ceremony in the Austin Convention Center's Ballroom D on Monday evening.—
Karoline Leonard,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
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Rowe was among the more than 3,000 degree candidates and credential recipients at the campus’ 65th Commencement ceremonies in Turlock, California.—
Elizabeth Marie Himchak,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rite. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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