1
a
: dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity
a tree sacred to the gods
b
: devoted exclusively to one service or use (as of a person or purpose)
a fund sacred to charity
2
a
: worthy of religious veneration : holy
b
: entitled to reverence and respect
3
: of or relating to religion : not secular or profane
sacred music
4
archaic
: accursed
5
a
b
: highly valued and important
a sacred responsibility
sacredly
adverb
sacredness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of sacred in a Sentence
The burial site is sacred ground.
the sacred image of the Virgin Mary
the sacred pursuit of liberty
We have a sacred duty to find out the truth.
Freedom is a sacred right.
They'll make jokes about anything. Nothing is sacred to those guys.
I can't believe they would do that. Is nothing sacred?
Recent Examples on the Web
Participating in American commercial Christmas does not mean participating in the Christian faith and takes nothing away from our devout Christian friends who celebrate a sacred holiday.
—
Gord Magill, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
The nonprofit Apache Stronghold is challenging the mine on religious grounds, and this fall asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear its appeal of a lawsuit filed to protect sacred Apache ground at Oak Flat, which Congress voted to trade to Rio Tinto to enable mining under it.
—Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 19 Dec. 2024
Machu Picchu in Peru, the Great Pyramids of Egypt, Mount Shasta in California, the temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the sacred Cenotes of Mexico, Glastonbury in England and the rainforests of Costa Rica to name just a few will be en vogue in 2025.
—Roger Sands, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
Set between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, the game — an official part of Indiana Jones canon — chronicles the hunt of not just one MacGuffin but an entire set of sacred sites that makes up the titular Great Circle.
—Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sacred 
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Gord Magill, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
The nonprofit Apache Stronghold is challenging the mine on religious grounds, and this fall asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear its appeal of a lawsuit filed to protect sacred Apache ground at Oak Flat, which Congress voted to trade to Rio Tinto to enable mining under it.
—Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 19 Dec. 2024
Machu Picchu in Peru, the Great Pyramids of Egypt, Mount Shasta in California, the temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the sacred Cenotes of Mexico, Glastonbury in England and the rainforests of Costa Rica to name just a few will be en vogue in 2025.
—Roger Sands, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
Set between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, the game — an official part of Indiana Jones canon — chronicles the hunt of not just one MacGuffin but an entire set of sacred sites that makes up the titular Great Circle.
—Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sacred
Dictionary Entries Near sacred
Cite this Entry
“Sacred.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sacred. Accessed 2 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sacred
adjective
sa·cred
ˈsā-krəd 
1
: set apart in honor of someone (as a god)
a mountain sacred to Jupiter
2
: holy sense 3
the sacred name of Jesus
3
: religious entry 1 sense 2
sacred songs
4
: deserving respect or honor
a sacred right
sacredly
adverb
sacredness
noun
Etymology
Middle English sacred "sacred," derived from early French sacrer "to make holy, dedicate to God," from Latin sacrare (same meaning), from sacr-, sacer "sacred, holy" — related to consecrate, sacrifice
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