1
as in pious
showing a devotion to God and to a life of virtue
the holy monk spent many hours on his knees in prayer
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sacred
set apart or worthy of veneration by association with God
the Torah contains the holy writings of Judaism
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3
as in divine
of, relating to, or being God
the Holy Trinity
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in pure
not to be violated, criticized, or tampered with
the hour every Saturday she listens to her radio program is holy and you'd better not make her miss it
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of holy
And the sun rises on a holy land that is finally at peace.
—
Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
There are no direction markers, no information board to explain that here, nestled between an air-conditioner repair shop and a gaming cafe, lies one of Brazilian football’s holy sites.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
The brewer's smooth Absolution Amber is a crowd favorite, while the Bienna marries the proud brewing tradition of Mexican- and Vienna-style lagers under one (ostensibly holy) roof.
—Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 6 Oct. 2025
In Catholicism, veneration is a showing of respect for saints, and their holy lives led with virtue.
—Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for holy
Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
There are no direction markers, no information board to explain that here, nestled between an air-conditioner repair shop and a gaming cafe, lies one of Brazilian football’s holy sites.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
The brewer's smooth Absolution Amber is a crowd favorite, while the Bienna marries the proud brewing tradition of Mexican- and Vienna-style lagers under one (ostensibly holy) roof.
—Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 6 Oct. 2025
In Catholicism, veneration is a showing of respect for saints, and their holy lives led with virtue.
—Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for holy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holy
Adjective
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Supported, at least initially, by his pious wife, Najmeh (Soheila Golestani), and his two teenage daughters, Rezvan (Mahsa Rostami) and Sana (Setareh Maleki), Iman and his clan seem set for a comfy bourgeois life.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Oct. 2025
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According to Singh, Bishnoi has cultivated the public persona of a pious man dedicated to God and justice.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The seven pillars of society—wisdom, love, respect, bravery, honesty, humility, and truth—aren’t just words carved into sacred walls.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
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For this is sacred time, time out of time, without ballast or anchor, without leash or link.—
Joy Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The texture contrast is divine.—
Alex Beggs,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 Oct. 2025
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The town’s origins are bizarre, involving a celestial object crashing into Derry and a divine turtle-like being named Maturin.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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During their first reign from 1996-2001, the Taliban had outlawed all music besides non-instrumental religious chanting, enforcing the ban with brutal tactics that included a suicide bombing at an ANIM student concert.—
Vidushi Mishti Sharma,
Rolling Stone,
24 Oct. 2025
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Following religious conviction, pride in one's homeland and confidence in its future is the sentiment that very well might induce the most people to get married and have children.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Sold to Menemsha, studied in its craft, genuinely tense and gorgeously shot, highlighting the heavenly mountains and a historical hell.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
24 Oct. 2025
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This dish is a heavenly mishmash between creamy, decadent risotto and jambalaya.—
Marianne Williams,
Southern Living,
12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The actor, 76, has been a devout Buddhist for over 40 years.—
Gillian Telling,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
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Many Latin acts, particularly from Puerto Rico, are devout Christians but don’t share their beliefs in their music.—
Leila Cobo,
Billboard,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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You're blessed, very blessed, very fortunate.—
Senior Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Oct. 2025
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Meyers, who graciously agreed to an Evite for the blessed event, then suggested Swift send the invites in a picture frame, since people will probably frame it up anyway.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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There is a fine line between reverent homage and cheap pastiche; Shelby Oaks largely exists on the latter side.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Oct. 2025
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Del Toro loves playing around in genres, and his remake of the 1947 film (itself based on the William Lindsay Gresham novel) represents what’s best (and also what’s limiting) about his reverent enthusiasm.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Holy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holy. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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