as in to consecrate
formal
to mark (something) officially or formally especially with a religious ceremony
The priest solemnized their marriage.
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Recent Examples of solemnize
Lee signs bill allowing officiants to decline to perform marriages
Lee quietly signed into law a bill allowing officiants to decline to solemnize marriages for any reason, which has been criticized by the LGBTQ community as antagonistic.
—
Vivian Jones, The Tennessean, 3 Feb. 2025
In one temple, an officiant claimed that his facility had solemnized 1,500 mixed marriages over the last five years.
—Ira Trivedi, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2013
The vows were solemnized by Hunter S. Thompson who was an ordained minister.
—Rory Feehan, SPIN, 9 Nov. 2023
Once received, the license must be solemnized with a ceremony conducted by someone recognized as having the legal power do so.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2020
According to custom in these conservative Hindu communities, while weddings are often solemnized at very young ages, a bride typically is sent to live with her husband’s family and consummate the union in her teens.
—Author: Shashank Bengali, Anchorage Daily News, 24 June 2018
Paper can also help us with solemnizing our transactions — making them official.
—David Scharfenberg, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Apr. 2018
There is no marker to solemnize the death of the Spurs' unmatched dynasty: RIP 1997-2017.
—Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 11 Feb. 2018
Vivian Jones, The Tennessean, 3 Feb. 2025
In one temple, an officiant claimed that his facility had solemnized 1,500 mixed marriages over the last five years.
—Ira Trivedi, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2013
The vows were solemnized by Hunter S. Thompson who was an ordained minister.
—Rory Feehan, SPIN, 9 Nov. 2023
Once received, the license must be solemnized with a ceremony conducted by someone recognized as having the legal power do so.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2020
According to custom in these conservative Hindu communities, while weddings are often solemnized at very young ages, a bride typically is sent to live with her husband’s family and consummate the union in her teens.
—Author: Shashank Bengali, Anchorage Daily News, 24 June 2018
Paper can also help us with solemnizing our transactions — making them official.
—David Scharfenberg, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Apr. 2018
There is no marker to solemnize the death of the Spurs' unmatched dynasty: RIP 1997-2017.
—Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 11 Feb. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for solemnize
Verb
-
He was ordained a priest days before his 33rd birthday and was consecrated as an auxiliary bishop of his hometown of Buenos Aires in 1992.—
Christine Rousselle,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Later that evening, Rocky himself made an appearance, effectively consecrating his own corner of the fair and Design.Space as a whole.—
Julissa James,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Carner honors his hero by sampling a clip of Zephaniah speaking on the Brixton riots, but also the potential and hope of the youth to change things.—
Thomas Smith,
Billboard,
24 Apr. 2025
-
Across history, grief has long been honored as a sacred rite of passage.—
Devi Brown,
Time,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Target's Easter Hours All Target locations are closing on Easter Sunday to give the day off to employees to celebrate with their families.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Apr. 2025
-
To celebrate, shoppers can get $10 off any purchase with code SHOTS10.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Princess Margaret Beach and neighboring Lower Bay Beach are the showpieces of an island undeniably blessed with some of the nicest shores in the region.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
13 Apr. 2025
-
Hungry to win more silverware and clearly talented, the Nerazzurri are blessed with one of the best and most in-form midfielders in the world.—
Adam Digby,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
In the West, she’s been sanctified, but also portrayed as a sinner, a nun, a mystic, and Jesus’ wife.—
Eliza Griswold,
New Yorker,
19 Apr. 2025
-
By promoting dissimulation and sanctifying mendacity, Trump’s tsarist regime works to silence knowledge.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The holiday commemorates the Israelites’ liberation from slavery in ancient Egypt, including their 40-year journey through the desert.—
Marc Levy,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
-
To commemorate the event, a new logo was developed by Acura and the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach.—
Jan Wagner,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
During his papacy, he was both praised and criticized for commenting on political issues, from immigration to LGBTQ issues.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Trump praised the pope at the start of Francis's papacy, in 2013, several years before Trump reached the White House.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Solemnize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/solemnize. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
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