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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of holy
During the final Mass at the All Saints Parish in Buffalo, New York, on a warm Sunday in July, the priests encouraged the few parishioners who came to take comfort in holy scripture.
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Steve Osunsami, ABC News, 28 Dec. 2024
In Immaculate, Sydney Sweeney stars as Sister Cecilia, who becomes a holy figure to her fellow nuns when she’s found to be pregnant despite being a virgin.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024
The Greeks, led by King Antiochus IV, had sought to suppress Jewish religious practices, outlawed the observance of Judaism, and desecrated the holy Temple in Jerusalem.
—Gail Swedroe, Austin American-Statesman, 19 Dec. 2024
The tablet also instructs adherents to worship on Mount Gerizim, a holy site for Samaritans, near the modern-day city of Nablus.
—Sarah Ventre, NPR, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for holy 
Steve Osunsami, ABC News, 28 Dec. 2024
In Immaculate, Sydney Sweeney stars as Sister Cecilia, who becomes a holy figure to her fellow nuns when she’s found to be pregnant despite being a virgin.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024
The Greeks, led by King Antiochus IV, had sought to suppress Jewish religious practices, outlawed the observance of Judaism, and desecrated the holy Temple in Jerusalem.
—Gail Swedroe, Austin American-Statesman, 19 Dec. 2024
The tablet also instructs adherents to worship on Mount Gerizim, a holy site for Samaritans, near the modern-day city of Nablus.
—Sarah Ventre, NPR, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for holy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holy
Adjective
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The pious townspeople eat food for sustenance, not enjoyment, and for over a decade Babette dutifully prepares a rather drab-looking bread soup for the sisters, per their instructions.Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 21 Dec. 2024
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And yet something about her pious active listening face really gets to Urs.Caroline Framke, Vulture, 20 Nov. 2024
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Like the kamikaze pilots in the same story, whose deaths lost their sacred meaning once Emperor Hirohito renounced his divinity after the war, the plotters in 1936 worshipped not a man but a deity.Ian Buruma, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025
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Now, entering the start of a new Trump administration, our political and economic realities have changed, and so has New York’s sacred task.John Raskin, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2025
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These stewards are not perfect, but they’ve been ordained to spread a divine message.Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 12 Jan. 2025
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Since crocodiles were considered divine helpers against evil, the figure is supposed to absorb the pain and then be discarded.Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 12 Jan. 2025
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Millions Gather For World’s Largest Religious Festival Maha Kumbh By Lilith Foster-Collins News Reporter 0 Millions of Hindu devotees, mystics and holy men and women have flocked to the northern Indian city of Prayagraj on Monday to kickstart the world's largest religious gathering.John Mac Ghlionn, Newsweek, 13 Jan. 2025
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By Sophie Hills Staff writer For the first time in modern U.S. history, men are just as likely to be religious as women.Jacob Turcotte, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Jan. 2025
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Each pack comes with 10 delicious flavors, including heavenly caramel, cinnamon hazelnut, peanut butter crunch, and more.Rebecca Martinson, Rolling Stone, 19 Dec. 2024
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Gilded touches of gold eyeshadow accentuate the eyes, a touch of light-catching lip gloss enhances your heavenly pout and goddess nails add sparkle to your golden touch.Stacia Datskovska, WWD, 17 Dec. 2024
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At least six people were killed and 35 injured in a stampede near one of India’s busiest and richest temples, after thousands of devout Hindus assembled there to secure free visit passes, authorities said Thursday.Reuters, NBC News, 9 Jan. 2025
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Tillman, as the devout middle manager Mr. Milchick, delivers an impeccable performance defined by nuanced moments of silent decision-making.Ben Travers, IndieWire, 7 Jan. 2025
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This year has been very blessed — a lot has happened.Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 31 Dec. 2024
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For two hours that afternoon, Jeanie Crawford—a doctor per her credentials, a blessed sorceress per my experience—pulled, tugged, straightened, bent, jabbed, and corrected seemingly every bone in my body.Grayson Haver Currin, Outside Online, 24 Dec. 2024
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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
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More: Memorials honor Black Hawk crash victims with private family, Fort Campbell services The scene was controlled, quiet and reverent.Katie Nixon, The Tennessean, 28 Mar. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Holy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holy. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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