1
as in to purge
to free from moral guilt or blemish especially ceremonially
received the sacrament of penance, whereby they were sanctified and restored to divine grace
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2
as in to bless
to make holy through prayers or ritual
sanctify the bread for Communion
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Recent Examples of sanctify
With an original seating capacity of 800 on 20 rows of pews divided into three sections, the buff brick church, trimmed in limestone, was sanctified almost 70 years ago in 1955.
—
Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 12 May 2024
The priest at the church, which had been sanctified by the recent arrival of some saintly relics from Rome, tried talking to the demon living in the girl’s body.
—Matthew Gabriele, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Dec. 2024
If Saturday’s game likely won’t be as low-scoring affair as the one Rice sanctified 100 years ago, both offenses may be in for a long day; having given up just 10.3 points per game this season, Army boasts the game’s second-stingiest D, while the Irish are No. 3 (11.4).
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 22 Nov. 2024
The same mirrors that were instruments for Jewish continuity in Egypt helped sanctify the basin used by the priests to prepare themselves for the Temple service.
—Rabbi Avi Weiss, Sun Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for sanctify
Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 12 May 2024
The priest at the church, which had been sanctified by the recent arrival of some saintly relics from Rome, tried talking to the demon living in the girl’s body.
—Matthew Gabriele, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Dec. 2024
If Saturday’s game likely won’t be as low-scoring affair as the one Rice sanctified 100 years ago, both offenses may be in for a long day; having given up just 10.3 points per game this season, Army boasts the game’s second-stingiest D, while the Irish are No. 3 (11.4).
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 22 Nov. 2024
The same mirrors that were instruments for Jewish continuity in Egypt helped sanctify the basin used by the priests to prepare themselves for the Temple service.
—Rabbi Avi Weiss, Sun Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for sanctify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanctify
Verb
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Maybe that oversized bath sheet that isn’t getting used needs to be purged.—
Rebecca Jones,
Southern Living,
28 Mar. 2025
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One of the things that Erdoğan did right after the coup attempt was to purge the judiciary.—
Isaac Chotiner,
The New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Their relationship is romantic in a platonic sense, yet there is also nothing wrong with shipping these two — God bless.—
John DeVore,
Rolling Stone,
2 Apr. 2025
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The beautiful island of Jamaica, which I am blessed enough to call home, was not just a simple backdrop for our #Sheacation, but the country’s culture was truly engrained into every aspect of the trip.—
Kayla Greaves,
Essence,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The rig features a full wet bath with a recirculating shower system that reuses 70% of your sudsy bubble-water after filtering and purifying it.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
20 Mar. 2025
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Harnessing the sun’s energy, this method purifies through evaporation and condensation, restoring purity; minerals can be reintroduced for balance.—
Sahit Muja,
Forbes,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Bergoglio was consecrated into the priesthood as a Jesuit, a religious order explicitly averse to moving up within the ranks of the church hierarchy.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
28 Feb. 2025
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The creators of this medieval masterpiece have been lost to time, but it’s believed to have been commissioned by Odo, bishop of Bayeux and William’s half-brother, to decorate the nave of the new cathedral of Notre-Dame of Bayeux, which was consecrated in 1077.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN,
20 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sanctify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sanctify. Accessed 6 Apr. 2025.
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