as in sanctuaries
a place that is considered sacred (as within a religion)
for centuries pilgrims have traveled to the shrine of Saint Thomas à Becket in Canterbury, England
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 shrines
The concierge specializes in Kyoto’s cultural events, and can help access exclusive ochaya with an interpreter, score tickets to the theater, book dinner reservations, a huge help in Kyoto, or help arrange meetings with monks and priests at the city’s Shinto shrines and temples.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Apr. 2026
Many of the cities targeted in the war today are home to these types of shrines, including Qom, Isfahan and Mashhad.
—Mary Thurlkill, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2026
Less celebrated for its green spaces than Kyoto, Tokyo still has an impressive number of parks that are well worth visiting, many attached to venerable temples and shrines.
—Stephen Kelly, TheWeek, 26 Mar. 2026
Many are used as shrines for meditation and rituals and are visited by tourists and pilgrims.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 24 Mar. 2026
Koreans were forced to worship at Japanese Shintō shrines and even to adopt Japanese-style names, and academic societies devoted to Korean studies as well as newspapers and magazines published in Korean were banned.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Mar. 2026
As well as hosting a range of species, many of the caves are used as shrines, or for meditation and other rituals, and are visited by tourists and pilgrims, according to the report.
—Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026
Popular routes include the Zhushan Sunrise Trail—where early risers catch a sea of clouds backlit by cherry blossoms—and forest loops connecting ponds, shrines, and scenic overlooks.
—Alexandra Gillespie, Outside, 6 Mar. 2026
Its architecture and interior design likewise reinforced sumo’s connection to religion through aesthetic nods to the Shinto shrines where some tournaments had previously been held.
—Joshua Hunt, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Apr. 2026
Many of the cities targeted in the war today are home to these types of shrines, including Qom, Isfahan and Mashhad.
—Mary Thurlkill, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2026
Less celebrated for its green spaces than Kyoto, Tokyo still has an impressive number of parks that are well worth visiting, many attached to venerable temples and shrines.
—Stephen Kelly, TheWeek, 26 Mar. 2026
Many are used as shrines for meditation and rituals and are visited by tourists and pilgrims.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 24 Mar. 2026
Koreans were forced to worship at Japanese Shintō shrines and even to adopt Japanese-style names, and academic societies devoted to Korean studies as well as newspapers and magazines published in Korean were banned.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Mar. 2026
As well as hosting a range of species, many of the caves are used as shrines, or for meditation and other rituals, and are visited by tourists and pilgrims, according to the report.
—Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026
Popular routes include the Zhushan Sunrise Trail—where early risers catch a sea of clouds backlit by cherry blossoms—and forest loops connecting ponds, shrines, and scenic overlooks.
—Alexandra Gillespie, Outside, 6 Mar. 2026
Its architecture and interior design likewise reinforced sumo’s connection to religion through aesthetic nods to the Shinto shrines where some tournaments had previously been held.
—Joshua Hunt, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrines
sanctuaries
Noun
-
The decision to inaugurate the first urban Six Senses property in Rome was partially driven by the owner’s love of all things Italian and is part of a new drive to bring sanctuaries to bigger cities.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
-
That brightening would affect the entire planet, including remote locations that are now considered dark sky sanctuaries, where astronomers build their sky-observing machines.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shrines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrines. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
