sacrifice 1 of 2

Definition of sacrificenext
as in offering
something offered to a god the herders selected their best lamb as a sacrifice in order to receive blessings from their god

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sacrifice

2 of 2

verb

as in to offer
to give up as an offering to a god according to the Old Testament, Abraham was willing to sacrifice even his son to God

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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 sacrifice
Noun
Valentine's Day pagan connections Lupercalia was a debaucherous festival that celebrated the coming of spring that included animal sacrifices and drunken revelry to honor Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, and the Roman founders Romulus and Remus. Kate Perez, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026 The 24-year-old had achieved his life’s ambition, successfully following in his parents’ footsteps by becoming an Olympian, the ultimate achievement and result of years of sacrifice and hard work. Ben Church, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
Choose from black, white, or two different shades of blue to match your style without sacrificing comfort. Taylor Fox, Travel + Leisure, 11 Feb. 2026 Dallas decided Wednesday to sacrifice some of its power to keep the region’s transit service alive. Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sacrifice
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sacrifice
Noun
  • The food and beverage offering, even if only for breakfast service, can be a key differentiator for limited-service hotel brands.
    Kevin Williams, CNBC, 15 Feb. 2026
  • For her, that included the chance to explore the festival’s offerings.
    Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 15 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Indeed, each of these three countries have sought to offer support to Cuba in recent days.
    Sam Meredith, CNBC, 14 Feb. 2026
  • In addition to the services offered athletes during the Games, Team USA’s travel insurance carrier covers ongoing care to athletes who sustain injuries at the Olympics that require follow-up.
    Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Family members of the shooting victims cried as the sentence was handed down.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Feb. 2026
  • The victim was taken to Hartford Hospital with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening, according to state police.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 13 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sacrifice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sacrifice. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

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