1
as in pious
showing a devotion to God and to a life of virtue
the holy monk spent many hours on his knees in prayer
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2
as in sacred
set apart or worthy of veneration by association with God
the Torah contains the holy writings of Judaism
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3
as in divine
of, relating to, or being God
the Holy Trinity
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4
as in pure
not to be violated, criticized, or tampered with
the hour every Saturday she listens to her radio program is holy and you'd better not make her miss it
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of holy
Advertisement The festival is a series of ritual baths by Hindu sadhus, or holy men, and other pilgrims at the confluence of three sacred rivers that dates to at least medieval times.
—
Sheikh Saaliq, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2025
Millions of Hindu devotees, mystics and holy men and women from all across India flocked to the northern city of Prayagraj on Monday to kickstart the Maha Kumbh festival, which is being touted as the world's largest religious gathering.
—Fox News, 13 Jan. 2025
As with any good Southern tradition, part of what makes football season so holy is the food.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 16 Jan. 2025
The collection spans categories like body care — Bath & Body Works’ holy grail — home decor, candles, and beyond, with prices starting at $1.95.
—Stacia Datskovska, WWD, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for holy 
Sheikh Saaliq, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2025
Millions of Hindu devotees, mystics and holy men and women from all across India flocked to the northern city of Prayagraj on Monday to kickstart the Maha Kumbh festival, which is being touted as the world's largest religious gathering.
—Fox News, 13 Jan. 2025
As with any good Southern tradition, part of what makes football season so holy is the food.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 16 Jan. 2025
The collection spans categories like body care — Bath & Body Works’ holy grail — home decor, candles, and beyond, with prices starting at $1.95.
—Stacia Datskovska, WWD, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for holy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holy
Adjective
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Advertisement Nazanin goes through the same preparations as Salme, who has turned supremely pious in the intervening years, and Zari, who has grown more level-headed, not to say jaded.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Jan. 2025
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If some punters were irritatingly pious, many also had the time of their life.—
Martin McKenzie-Murray,
SPIN,
7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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As fires rage and climate destruction grows, the Trump administration has signaled a shift to more mining and drilling, to rolling back protection for sacred sites like Bears Ears National Monument, and to rewriting the rules that govern policies like the Endangered Species Act.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
31 Jan. 2025
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There are certain characters in the One Chicago universe that are sacred and who many would agree should be protected at all costs.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
29 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Everything is either a complete accident or divine providence, the movie suggests.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
7 Feb. 2025
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Identical in composition, indistinguishable to the human eye, but, according to the natural diamond industry, lacking in that all-important divine provenance.—
Lilah Ramzi,
Vogue,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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In what President Donald Trump says is a move to protect the rule of law and free speech advocates see as an attack on it, the White House is promising tougher punishments for vandalizing public monuments, statues and religious displays.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA TODAY,
7 Feb. 2025
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Trump supporters say that such policies – which the Education Department indirectly supported by expanding Title IX gender protections in 2024 to include discrimination based on gender identity – are at odds with parental school choice rights or, for some religious conservatives, the Bible.—
Alex Hinton,
The Conversation,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The heavenly ruler promised that if the snake won a race competition against the other animals, which would eventually dictate the order of the zodiac, the snake could win a prize and potentially get his legs back.—
Kimmy Yam,
NBC News,
29 Jan. 2025
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Similar to Western astrology's elements (fire, water, earth, air), Chinese zodiacs pair with one of the five elements in the heavenly frequency (wood, fire, earth, metal, water).—
Skyler Caruso,
People.com,
29 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Taking inspiration from Iran’s Woman Life Freedom protests, the film revolves around a devout man who is promoted to the position of investigating judge at the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, just as his daughters become swept up in the pro-equal rights and democracy movement.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
30 Jan. 2025
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And after a lifetime of devout Mormon teetotaling, Sara started drinking.—
Ariane Lange,
Sacramento Bee,
26 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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His progression has been superb since breaking into the first team, and those around the club feel blessed to have such a talent on their hands.—
Pol Ballús,
The Athletic,
3 Feb. 2025
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Mendez wears the blessed boxers for every game and only washes them when the team loses.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Carter was highly educated, intelligent, affable, adaptable, reverent, and a constant supporting partner to his wife of 77 years.—
Harvey Levine,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Jan. 2025
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The presentation is restrained and reverent, but the flavors play together with dynamically on the tongue.—
Helen Rosner,
The New Yorker,
22 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near holy
Cite this Entry
“Holy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holy. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
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