1
as in habit
a usual manner of behaving or doing
her morning ritual is to enjoy a bracing cup of coffee while reading the newspaper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in ceremony
an oft-repeated action or series of actions performed in accordance with tradition or a set of rules
a ritual that the ancient peoples of that country believed would bring rain
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in ceremonial
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ritual
Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 9 June 2025
For some fans, Cheongdo bullfights are a weekly ritual.
—Chang W. Lee, New York Times, 7 June 2025
Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
Archaeologists don’t know the purpose of these tiny artifacts but generally link them to ritual ceremonies.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ritual
Noun
After the chaos of check-in lines and security checkpoints, there’s a small ritual that feels almost sacred: finding a seat near your gate, plugging in your phone, and catching your breath with a scroll through emails or TikTok.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 9 June 2025
For some fans, Cheongdo bullfights are a weekly ritual.
—Chang W. Lee, New York Times, 7 June 2025
Adjective
Additional finds within the tomb complex include: A three-foot-wide red granite sacrificial table, engraved with a list of ritual offerings.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
Archaeologists don’t know the purpose of these tiny artifacts but generally link them to ritual ceremonies.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ritual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ritual
Noun
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No title yet revealed, but the pod will launch mid-July, the duo engage in heartfelt and unfiltered conversations about everyday life such as discuss raising a family, cultivating gardens, home improvements, careers, fostering healthy habits and aging.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
18 June 2025
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Inspired by Napoleon’s habit of using toy soldiers to plot his military battles, the designer dotted the entrance with giant cutouts with gold outlines, and shrouded the floor in smoke.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
18 June 2025
Noun
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The ceremony is free and open to the public, with registration encouraged at usps.com/usps250years.—
Kristen Waggoner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 June 2025
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Carnival rides and parking lots open at 2 p.m. Food vendors and Riverwalk Grill open at 4 p.m., and a patriotic ceremony with military Color Guard is at 6 p.m., the band Full Strength performs from 6:30 – 9 p.m.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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Based on the blade decorations, sheath shape and burial location on Okinoshima, researchers concluded the 1,300-year-old artifact was made to be a ritual offering or to have a ceremonial purpose, not to be a functional weapon.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
20 June 2025
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In Virginia, a ceremonial groundbreaking was held for rebuilding the First Baptist Church of Williamsburg, one of the nation's oldest Black churches.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
20 June 2025
Noun
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The goal is to mirror real-world conditions during practice.—
Carmine Gallo,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
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The survey found that Hispanic Catholics take part in devotional practices at above-average rates.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
18 June 2025
Noun
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Signing an accomplished and highly motivated veteran at a very modest price long after the draft is an annual rite for Baltimore.—
Jeff Zrebiec,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
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The other symbolically important moment of the Mass was the representational rite of obedience to Leo, performed by cardinals, bishops, priests, deacons, nuns, a Peruvian married couple and two young people.—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2025
Adjective
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While use of the Latin Mass remains a flash point, a controversy in the rapidly growing Diocese of Charlotte, N.C., has raised questions about the status of other liturgical traditions and symbols.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 June 2025
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Some dresses recall chasubles, aka the outermost liturgical vestment worn by clery to celebrate the Eucharist.—
Roxanne Robinson,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
Noun
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This isn't the first time the former Sports Illustrated model has shared parenting tips and tricks.—
Clare Fisher,
People.com,
23 June 2025
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The magic trick is that Sunny gradually learned how to distinguish its POV from the characters’, showing empathy not only for the Gang’s victims, but also the Gang itself.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
22 June 2025
Noun
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Still, Hoffman praised Moster for expressing regret and called his return to Jewish observance a welcome, if incomplete, development.—
Asaf Elia-Shalev,
Sun Sentinel,
24 June 2025
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For instance, all of the city’s public library locations and five of its six official cooling centers were closed to the public in observance of Juneteenth last year during a string of 90-degree days.—
Adriana Pérez,
Chicago Tribune,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ritual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ritual. Accessed 28 Jun. 2025.
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