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 Rice’s recent focus has been as the head of ceremonies and content for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games — but now Rice focuses on a more urgent task. — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026 Buses will leave up to 45 minutes after the conclusion of the event, including any post-game ceremonies unless otherwise noted. — Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026 Similar memorial and burial ceremonies will be held Thursday in three other parts of Vietnam, with the remains of what are believed to be 93 people to be buried in Tuyen Quang province. — Aniruddha Ghosal, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026 Postwar Hiroshima was a popular setting for these movie gangsters, who fought dirty, had no use for the old ceremonies, and wore flashy suits and aviator shades. — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 Native Americans celebrate their centuries-long history of resilience with ceremonies, dances and speeches. — ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026 The suspension of the TV pool meant that there was much less video coverage of major ceremonies and other events surrounding his visit. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2026 The drones were of the handheld quadcopter variety, let loose directly over the camp, at times during prayer song ceremonies. — Ryan Devereaux, ProPublica, 10 Oct. 2026 In contrast to the official ceremonies, most of Wednesday’s commemoration events are grassroots efforts, organized by survivors and victims of the October 7 attack, including the October Council and the Kumu movement. — Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ceremonies
  1. rituals
  2. rites
  3. observances
Noun
  • The High Phenolic Extra Virgin Olive Oil is designed for daily wellness rituals, offering one of the highest concentrations of polyphenols and oleocanthal available.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The film’s multigenerational story touches on the cultural inheritance passed between mothers, daughters and grandmothers — whether through old traditions or ordinary rituals.
    — Johanna Ferreira, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of rituals
Noun
  • At that time, the Catholic Church banned funeral rites and burial on consecrated grounds for those who died by suicide.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Formal rites for the dying, already limited, were further truncated or skipped entirely.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of rites
Noun
  • Although their mythological associations and forms of celebration differ by region, both are marked by major religious and communal observances and festivities.
    — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Most people can safely fast for Yom Kippur or other religious or cultural observances.
    — Reed Berger-Fleishman, The Conversation, 16 Sep. 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 21 Oct. 2026.

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