ceremonious

adjective

cer·​e·​mo·​ni·​ous ˌser-ə-ˈmō-nē-əs How to pronounce ceremonious (audio)
ˌse-rə-
Synonyms of ceremoniousnext
1
: devoted to forms and ceremony
ceremonious courtiers
2
: of, relating to, or constituting a ceremony
a ceremonious occasion
3
: according to formal usage or prescribed procedures
… the cold and ceremonious politeness of her curtsey …—Jane Austen
4
: marked by ceremony
a ceremonious procession
ceremoniously adverb
ceremoniousness noun

Synonyms of ceremonious

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ceremonial, ceremonious, formal, conventional mean marked by attention to or adhering strictly to prescribed forms.

ceremonial and ceremonious both imply strict attention to what is prescribed by custom or by ritual, but ceremonial applies to things that are associated with ceremonies,

a ceremonial offering

ceremonious to persons given to ceremony or to acts attended by ceremony.

made his ceremonious entrance

formal applies both to things prescribed by and to persons obedient to custom and may suggest stiff, restrained, or old-fashioned behavior.

a formal report
the headmaster's formal manner

conventional implies accord with general custom and usage

conventional courtesy

and may suggest a stodgy lack of originality or independence.

conventional fiction

Examples of ceremonious in a Sentence

She read the announcement in a very ceremonious way. a century ago everyday life was much more ceremonious than in our anything-goes era
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The band’s official end was even less ceremonious. — Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025 At some schools, the general manager is a ceremonious one, given to a program’s famous alumnus who can help gin up interest and money. — Chris Branch, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025 Today is the eleven year anniversary of the release of Destiny, perhaps not as ceremonious as last year’s tenth anniversary, one that did not end the series, but Bungie presses on. — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025 Worthy of the most ceremonious unwrapping video, a black cardboard carton contains an impressive wooden box with the DAP nestled inside. — Robert Ross, Robb Report, 20 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for ceremonious

Word History

First Known Use

1553, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ceremonious was in 1553

Rhymes for ceremonious

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Browse Nearby Words

ceremoniarius
ceremonious
ceremoniously
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Cite this Entry

“Ceremonious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ceremonious. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

ceremonious

adjective
cer·​e·​mo·​ni·​ous ˌser-ə-ˈmō-nē-əs How to pronounce ceremonious (audio)
1
: ceremonial entry 1
2
: careful to observe forms and ceremony : formal
ceremoniously adverb
ceremoniousness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on ceremonious

Nglish: Translation of ceremonious for Spanish Speakers

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