as in rituals
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 rites
Three Palestinians were laid to rest in traditional Islamic funeral rites.
—
Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
By the power vested in him, Pritz conducted the rites inside the Egyptian.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 28 Jan. 2026
The service moved between prayer and music, including a traditional Ave Maria, before concluding with rites that saw mourners approach the coffin, which was draped in white lace, to pay their final respects.
—Maliha Shoaib, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2026
Cleghorn writes speculatively and somewhat romantically of a culture in which women giving birth were sustained by ecstatic rites and practices conducted within the sacred protection of caves.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
Some, like Hamilton, strained for legitimacy in the rites and practices of monarchy.
—Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
In the Eastern rites of the Catholic Church, Theophany, which the holiday is often called in Eastern countries, celebrates the manifestation of Jesus’ divinity in addition to his baptism, according to The Catholic Witness.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
Spectropolis is never glib about the transparent profit motive sustaining such rites.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
However, this raises the question of why the community bypassed their traditional, lengthier burial rites.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 21 Dec. 2025
Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
By the power vested in him, Pritz conducted the rites inside the Egyptian.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 28 Jan. 2026
The service moved between prayer and music, including a traditional Ave Maria, before concluding with rites that saw mourners approach the coffin, which was draped in white lace, to pay their final respects.
—Maliha Shoaib, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2026
Cleghorn writes speculatively and somewhat romantically of a culture in which women giving birth were sustained by ecstatic rites and practices conducted within the sacred protection of caves.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
Some, like Hamilton, strained for legitimacy in the rites and practices of monarchy.
—Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
In the Eastern rites of the Catholic Church, Theophany, which the holiday is often called in Eastern countries, celebrates the manifestation of Jesus’ divinity in addition to his baptism, according to The Catholic Witness.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
Spectropolis is never glib about the transparent profit motive sustaining such rites.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
However, this raises the question of why the community bypassed their traditional, lengthier burial rites.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 21 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rites
Noun
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Our Turkishness was manifest in small and decontextualized rituals that could hardly pass as some ‘authentic’ experience.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Feb. 2026
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Many of the treatments tap into Ayurvedic traditions, with an extensive menu of options including body work, energy treatment, facials, and other beauty rituals.—
Paul Brady,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The theme for the opening ceremonies was armonia, or harmony, and many credit Kirsty Coventry, the International Olympic Committee president who is presiding over her first Games, with helping create the change in tone.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
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As for how to combine this shoe with a guest look fit for upcoming ceremonies, there are two easy ways.—
Tatiana Ojea,
Vogue,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Much like the Christian and Catholic observances of the Lent season leading up to Easter, Ramadan’s date on the Gregorian calendar changes each year, since it’s based on the lunar calendar.—
Lianna Norman,
Florida Times-Union,
5 Feb. 2026
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As in recent years, Russia representatives were not invited to the observances at Auschwitz due to the country’s invasion of Ukraine.—
Vanessa Gera,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rites.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rites. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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