ceremonies

noun

plural of ceremony
as in rituals
an oft-repeated action or series of actions performed in accordance with tradition or a set of rules a beautiful, old-fashioned wedding ceremony

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 ceremonies The ceremonies provide an outlet for the grief and uncertainty that have gripped so many in Nepal, and ensure that a key religious rite is afforded to the dead. — Andrew Jones, NBC news, 3 Sep. 2026 Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, wrote about working with Steinem to mobilize young voters, making public appearances at interviews and award ceremonies. — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 3 Sep. 2026 For future ceremonies, organizers plan to alternate between Zurich and other European countries. — ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026 At one point, he was charged in the death of a woman who stopped breathing during one of his ceremonies. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 2 Sep. 2026 From small guest lists to Las Vegas ceremonies, here are celebrity couples who eloped. — Mariah Alanskas, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026 The chamber’s Ana Martinez, producer of the Walk of Fame ceremonies, told The Times a vandal apparently scratched the star, though the damage has been quickly repaired. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 For the Catholic and symbolic ceremonies, the groom donned two bespoke suits by HKT Custom Clothiers—one made from Loro Piana blue linen and the other from Vitale Barberis Canonico tuxedo fabric. — Shelby Wax, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026 Among these are baptisms, including ceremonies in which current members are baptized on behalf of their deceased, non-Mormon ancestors. — Brandon Griggs, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ceremonies
  1. rituals
  2. rites
  3. observances
Noun
  • This goes beyond just topical products to include massage tools, wellness rituals and detoxifying treatments.
    — Bella Webb, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Shankara advises that worshipping gods with names and stories through devotional rituals and sacred images (murtis) is an acceptable step for some people on the path toward a more philosophical understanding of an all-pervasive ultimate reality.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of rituals
Noun
  • Grieving families were made visible, giving voice and shape to those who were lost, as people held symbolic burial rites or went on their own journeys to look for loved ones.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The symbolic funeral pyres were surrounded by offerings to Hindu deities as relatives gathered to perform the final rites.
    — Shristi Kafle, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of rites
Noun
  • The school and church asked for privacy on Remembrance Day; observances on campus will not open to the public.
    — Mary Murphy, Twin Cities, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Rabbi Josh Joseph of the Orthodox Union said many Jewish religious practices are tied to sunrise and sunset, which determine prayer times and observances.
    — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of observances

Phrases Containing ceremonies

Browse Nearby Words

ceremonials
ceremonies
ceremonious
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Cite this Entry

“Ceremonies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ceremonies. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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