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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sacred
set apart or worthy of veneration by association with God
the Torah contains the holy writings of Judaism
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in divine
of, relating to, or being God
the Holy Trinity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 holy
Yes, there are lots of jokes about the Virgin Mary and holy ghosting.
—
Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 30 May 2025
There is some irony that the lawmakers working on the bill with preliminary votes on both Saturday and Sunday, the Jewish Sabbath and the Christian Sabbath, violated the commandment to keep the Sabbath day holy.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 27 May 2025
The march commemorates Jerusalem Day, which marks Israel’s capture of East Jerusalem, including the Old City and its holy sites sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims, in the 1967 Mideast war.
—Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2025
Below, shop the 13 best ceramide moisturizers recommended by experts, along with holy grail picks from Vogue editors themselves.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for holy
Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 30 May 2025
There is some irony that the lawmakers working on the bill with preliminary votes on both Saturday and Sunday, the Jewish Sabbath and the Christian Sabbath, violated the commandment to keep the Sabbath day holy.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 27 May 2025
The march commemorates Jerusalem Day, which marks Israel’s capture of East Jerusalem, including the Old City and its holy sites sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims, in the 1967 Mideast war.
—Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2025
Below, shop the 13 best ceramide moisturizers recommended by experts, along with holy grail picks from Vogue editors themselves.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for holy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holy
Adjective
-
The baron and his pious daughter seem at peace with their mutual estrangement until Zsa-zsa suddenly decides to break that habit.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
18 May 2025
-
But while the main character’s mother in that movie was an antagonistic figure, Fatima’s parents are portrayed as kind, not dogmatic or ostentatiously pious.—
Jon Frosch,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2025
Adjective
-
Getting the chance to compete here feels like stepping into something sacred.—
Matthew MacConnell,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2025
-
The underground as an origin point, a sacred realm, versus the underground as a site to exploit, carve up, burn.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2025
Adjective
-
Highlights on a recent menu included moreish gnocchi with wild mushrooms; hake with mussel sauce and leeks and a divine dessert, milk chocolate mousse with cherries.—
Joanne Shurvell,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
-
These lies evoke ancient American presumptions — that the United States deserves its position of preeminence in the world as a kind of divine inheritance, and that just beyond our borders, dark and sinister forces are forever conspiring against us.—
John Fanestil,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 June 2025
Adjective
-
At a religious forum in Nairobi this month, Ruto called upon church leaders to encourage youth members to take up overseas job opportunities, part of a wider strategy to meet his administration’s official target of sending 1 million Kenyans per year overseas.—
Martin K.N Siele,
semafor.com,
20 June 2025
-
Built in 1689, this architectural landmark offers visitors a rich look at America’s early religious history.—
Erin Gifford,
Southern Living,
20 June 2025
Adjective
-
In the elders’ telling, a single ray of heavenly light shone down while the villagers cried with joy.—
Pete McKenzie,
Harpers Magazine,
18 June 2025
-
Basically a man who had built a solid reputation as a career university president naively entered the Church of Florida Autocracy, donned sackcloth and ashes and prostrated himself … ultimately for no heavenly reward whatsoever.—
Ron Cunningham,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 June 2025
Adjective
-
Bure became a devout Christian at the age of 12 and has remained outspoken about her religious beliefs and conservative political opinions.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
11 June 2025
-
One such soul was Madeline Buol (1902–1986), a devout Catholic and beauty shop owner living in Dubuque, IA, right across the Mississippi River from Dickeyville.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
Adjective
-
Acutis will be joined by the blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati when he is inscribed in the book of saints.—
Nick Butler,
FOXNews.com,
13 June 2025
-
Everything from your connection with siblings to your thoughts and conversations will be under Jupiter’s blessed and cosmic rays.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
9 June 2025
Adjective
-
Fans of ’20s jazz will detect reverent references to the styles of Helen Morgan, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington and other jazz grants.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
30 Apr. 2025
-
The magazine saw itself as literary but not self-serious; if the stereotypical National Geographic story was a walk through the jungle recounted in hushed, awed tones, its Outside equivalent was a little dustier, wilder, and less reverent.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Holy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holy. Accessed 26 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share