1
as in adherences
the following of a custom, rule, or law
the observance of this family tradition would make your grandmother very happy observance of the smoking ban in public buildings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rituals
an oft-repeated action or series of actions performed in accordance with tradition or a set of rules
some religions require very specific observances on holy days
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of observances
Similar jijingu have been found across the Baekje kingdom’s capital, and offer a window into religious observances at the time—a mix of indigenous Korean animism combined with outside Buddhist and Chinese influences.
—
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 16 Oct. 2025
European migrants brought festivals such as Samhain and other observances of mortality to North America.
—George Petras, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025
Conference speakers remembered Kirk and incorporated the activist's memory in religious observances.
—Liam Adams, Nashville Tennessean, 20 Sep. 2025
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 16 Oct. 2025
European migrants brought festivals such as Samhain and other observances of mortality to North America.
—George Petras, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025
Conference speakers remembered Kirk and incorporated the activist's memory in religious observances.
—Liam Adams, Nashville Tennessean, 20 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for observances
Noun
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Read on to learn about some of the pre-pageant superstitions, rituals and traditions maintained by Miss USA contestants from across the country.—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
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Here, 13 modern witches share 13 unique rituals for honoring the spirit of Samhain in style.—
Lisa Stardust,
Vogue,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Challenge Our team started this research in summer 2023, when one of us, a space weather expert, spotted inconsistencies in space weather observations.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
24 Oct. 2025
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Nobody Wants This is a tougher case because its leads, Kristen Bell and Adam Brody, are just so charming and many of its observations about love and family are just so spot-on that weaker elements can get lost in the froth.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Princess of Wales, 43, attended the first two awards ceremonies for the Earthshot Prize, joining her husband for the event in London in October 2021, followed by a second cycle in Boston in December 2022.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
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On November 11, the plaza celebrates Military Appreciation Day with live music, exhibits, and ceremonies.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Bigelow has often been accused of being apolitical—or, because of her fascination with the codes, rites, and aesthetics of men at war, of advancing a gung-ho fetishization of American militarism.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
14 Oct. 2025
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According to the Ceremonial of Bishops, such rites – often a Mass or a Liturgy of the Word – should take place as soon as possible following a desecration.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
12 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Observances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/observances. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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