1
as in holy
not to be violated, criticized, or tampered with
the sacred trust that exists between elected officials and the electorate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in divine
of, relating to, or being God
a sacred name that must not be uttered in vain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in religious
of, relating to, or used in the practice or worship services of a religion
a sacred chalice
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in venerated
set apart or worthy of veneration by association with God
the sacred bones of a saint
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in venerable
deserving honor and respect especially by reason of age
the alumni procession at graduation is one of the college's most sacred traditions, dating back over a hundred years
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 sacred
Ramadan is the ninth month on the Islamic calendar and the most sacred month in Islam, during which most Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset every day.
—
Lianna Norman, Florida Times-Union, 5 Feb. 2026
Seamus Heaney’s poetry has long been treated as a kind of sacred text in Ireland, recited in schools, memorialized in public spaces, and invoked whenever the island searches for language equal to its own complexity.
—Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
In many religions and cultures, women who are menstruating or who just gave birth are not allowed to enter sacred sites, such as temples, or participate in religious rituals.
—Megan Bryson, The Conversation, 5 Feb. 2026
Those of us entrusted with the sacred oath of service must heed that call and work together to honor it.
—Zohran Mamdani, Washington Post, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sacred
Lianna Norman, Florida Times-Union, 5 Feb. 2026
Seamus Heaney’s poetry has long been treated as a kind of sacred text in Ireland, recited in schools, memorialized in public spaces, and invoked whenever the island searches for language equal to its own complexity.
—Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
In many religions and cultures, women who are menstruating or who just gave birth are not allowed to enter sacred sites, such as temples, or participate in religious rituals.
—Megan Bryson, The Conversation, 5 Feb. 2026
Those of us entrusted with the sacred oath of service must heed that call and work together to honor it.
—Zohran Mamdani, Washington Post, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sacred
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sacred
Adjective
-
Observing an actual Parisian rejecting butter—one of France’s holy trinity of dairy products, along with cheese and crème fraîche—was a window into the new wellness culture seeping into what might have been the world’s last bastion of free-flowing wine and glutinous bread.—
Hannah Seligson,
Vanity Fair,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Ramadan is the holiest month in Islam.—
Tony Peterson,
CBS News,
11 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
-
The Westerner, with eyes narrowed and speech slowed by a drawl, has become a venerated figure to people far removed from the species’ native habitat, the American range of yesterday that today doesn’t exist and, more to the point, save for artistic revisionist accounts, never did.—
Miles Beller,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Feb. 2026
-
He was charged with dozens more counts of criminal mischief, burglary, intentional desecration of a venerated object and other crimes.—
Emma Caughlan,
NBC news,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
On their second day in Washington, DC, a group of venerable Buddhist monks from Texas marked the end of their multi-month walking pilgrimage at the Lincoln Memorial.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The venerable Bay Area punk band Green Day also put in a characteristically punchy mini-set meant to mark the Super Bowl’s 60th anniversary.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
9 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
-
There is self-regulation going on in the initial stages of spiritual development, and this is where calming does come into play.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
-
There’s a spiritual battle going on here.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
10 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
Cite this Entry
“Sacred.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sacred. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
