ceremonies

noun

plural of ceremony
as in rituals
an oft-repeated action or series of actions performed in accordance with tradition or a set of rules a beautiful, old-fashioned wedding ceremony

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example 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 ceremonies The sheer number of corpses meant that traditional burial ceremonies were forgotten for a time, and mass unmarked grave sites were used outside the city walls. — Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026 Running from November 27 to January 3, the event features tree lighting ceremonies, parades, caroling sessions, and the Maker’s Market, a gathering of artisans, crafters, and food vendors. — Jessica Sulima, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Oct. 2026 The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce administers the Walk of Fame for the City of Los Angeles and has hosted iconic star ceremonies for decades. — Paul Grein, Billboard, 19 Oct. 2026 No documentary has ever been nominated for best picture in 98 ceremonies. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 19 Oct. 2026 American Symphony, Will & Harper, My Mom Jayne — all were showered with trophies by precursor awards ceremonies and, not coincidentally, all were DOA with voters in the doc branch. — Nate Jones, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026 Buses will leave up to 45 minutes after the conclusion of the event, including any post-game ceremonies unless otherwise noted. — Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026 Similar memorial and burial ceremonies will be held Thursday in three other parts of Vietnam, with the remains of what are believed to be 93 people to be buried in Tuyen Quang province. — Aniruddha Ghosal, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026 Postwar Hiroshima was a popular setting for these movie gangsters, who fought dirty, had no use for the old ceremonies, and wore flashy suits and aviator shades. — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ceremonies
  1. rituals
  2. rites
  3. observances
Noun
  • The teenager missed her mother’s cooking, her hugs, and their small, ordinary rituals of life together – reading, shopping, and singing.
    — Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Patel-Dunn told CNBC that 30 to 45 minutes of aerobic exercise four or five times a week can measurably improve mood, a signal of how much daily behavior shapes seasonal mental health, and how early rituals compound across the darker months.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of rituals
Noun
  • The risk of transmission also limits contact with the patients even after death, depriving families of closure and the opportunity to observe their preferred burial rites.
    — Constant Same Bagalwa, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Cremation and burial cost Japanese funerary rites involve both cremation and burial.
    — Mimi Hanaoka, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of rites
Noun
  • Although their mythological associations and forms of celebration differ by region, both are marked by major religious and communal observances and festivities.
    — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Most people can safely fast for Yom Kippur or other religious or cultural observances.
    — Reed Berger-Fleishman, The Conversation, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of observances

Phrases Containing ceremonies

Browse Nearby Words

ceremonials
ceremonies
ceremonious
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Cite this Entry

“Ceremonies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ceremonies. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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