as in to devote
to keep or intend for a special purpose a young attorney who has decided to dedicate her career to helping the poor receive justice

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How does the verb dedicate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of dedicate are consecrate, devote, and hallow. While all these words mean "to set apart for a special and often higher end," dedicate implies solemn and exclusive devotion to a sacred or serious use or purpose.

dedicated her life to medical research

Where would consecrate be a reasonable alternative to dedicate?

The synonyms consecrate and dedicate are sometimes interchangeable, but consecrate stresses investment with a solemn or sacred quality.

consecrate a church to the worship of God

When might devote be a better fit than dedicate?

Although the words devote and dedicate have much in common, devote is likely to imply compelling motives and often attachment to an objective.

devoted his evenings to study

In what contexts can hallow take the place of dedicate?

While in some cases nearly identical to dedicate, hallow, often differing little from dedicate or consecrate, may distinctively imply an attribution of intrinsic sanctity.

battlegrounds hallowed by the blood of patriots

Examples 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 dedicate There were more than 100 people dedicating their lives to the film and they were united by the martial arts spirit. Sara Merican, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2024 The council adopted regulations limiting vendors’ footprint while also dedicating funds to help mobile businesses obtain the necessary paperwork to operate. Sierra Lopez, The Mercury News, 31 Oct. 2024 The dynamics have forced Democrats to dedicate more resources to those districts, while creating new pickup opportunities for Republicans who are vying to expand their slim House majority in the next Congress. Mike Lillis, The Hill, 30 Oct. 2024 Norman Lear, who passed away age age 101 in December 2023, dedicated his life’s work to championing all Americans’ right to equal participation in the democratic process - starting with the right to vote. Marc Berman, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dedicate 

Thesaurus Entries Near dedicate

Cite this Entry

“Dedicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dedicate. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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