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
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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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of ritual
Amanda Cappelli, CBS News, 21 Dec. 2024
The ritual has been performed since the 15th century and involves physically opening ceremonial doors for people to walk through.
—Nate Trela, USA TODAY, 20 Dec. 2024
Caché McClay, USA TODAY, 14 Nov. 2024
The town itself is lost in time, and its inhabitants include both humans and humans transformed into nocturnal monsters through a bargain involving ritual child sacrifice.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ritual 
Noun
How is the winter solstice celebrated around the world?
Nations and cultures around the world have celebrated the solstice since ancient times with varying rituals and traditions.
—Amanda Cappelli, CBS News, 21 Dec. 2024
The ritual has been performed since the 15th century and involves physically opening ceremonial doors for people to walk through.
—Nate Trela, USA TODAY, 20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
Fans can purchase the limited edition wash-day kit for $100 and restoring ritual set for $120 at cecred.com.
—Caché McClay, USA TODAY, 14 Nov. 2024
The town itself is lost in time, and its inhabitants include both humans and humans transformed into nocturnal monsters through a bargain involving ritual child sacrifice.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ritual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ritual
Noun
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Your international initiatives could be based on a general brand image, but local campaigns should focus on recognizing the regional requirements, cultural nuances and consumer habits.Waleed Najam, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
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While for me, drinking coffee felt like a bad habit—there are proven health benefits when enjoying it in moderation.Emma Bocchi, Vogue, 27 Dec. 2024
Noun
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President Benjamin Harrison fans: At 10 a.m. Saturday, there will be a wreath-laying ceremony at the burial site of President Harrison at the Crown Hill cemetery.Brittany Carloni, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Dec. 2024
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Trudeau participated in the swearing-in ceremony and will chair a meeting with his new Cabinet later in the afternoon.Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Meanwhile, Princess Anne chose a photo of her and her husband Vice-Adm. Tim Laurence waving from a carriage during a ceremonial procession in June.Issy Ronald, CNN, 17 Dec. 2024
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Souvenir shops would also sell trinkets and ceremonial goods commemorating Russian-Syrian military cooperation.Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024
Noun
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In light of both injuries for Hurts and Pickett, the Eagles signed quarterback Ian Book to the practice squad.Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2024
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Modern Science Confirms Little’s Visionary Theory Little’s set of assumptions gave rise to predictions that have actually worked in practice for more than 110 years.The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 26 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Part 2, on Sunday, is an inaugural Mass, with special rites to consecrate the main altar.John Leicester, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024
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Lacking a central authority comparable to, say, the Vatican’s governance of the Catholic Church, Jews of different denominations have developed diverging rules and rites around what makes a valid conversion.Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Advent is the start of the Christian church's liturgical year.Joyce Orlando, The Tennessean, 29 Nov. 2024
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Davis’s boss at the Beinecke introduced her to a 12th-century liturgical manuscript known as the Gottschalk Antiphonary, and Davis wrote her dissertation on it.Ariel Sabar, The Atlantic, 8 Aug. 2024
Noun
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As for the pineapple addition to the drink, eating the fruit is another common, nonmedical trick that people suggest for getting labor started (some people also swear by it when trying to conceive).Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 18 Dec. 2024
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The gods prove cruel but not omnipotent, and the modern settings exert their own redemptive pull; the final effect is that of a magic trick, in which the characters manage, in each film’s miraculous closing moments, to slip the bonds of tragedy.Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Medieval rabbinic discussions of the latter line underscore the divided thinking: one rabbi worries that converts will influence other Jews to become lax in their observance of God’s commandments; others fear that Jews will inevitably mistreat converts and suffer God’s punishment for it.Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2024
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The earliest reference to Halloween found in The Enquirer was in 1865, a description of the holiday observance in Scotland, with only a few other mentions over the next decades.Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 28 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near ritual
Cite this Entry
“Ritual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ritual. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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