ritual 1 of 2

noun

Definition of ritualnext
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

Relevance
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

ritual

2 of 2

adjective

as in ceremonial

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 ritual
Noun
In this ritual a vessel of water is placed before the goddess, and a mirror is positioned so that her reflection is visible within it. — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Oct. 2026 The ceremony included the Arras and the Lazo, which are the ancient rituals of a Mexican Catholic wedding. — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 5 Oct. 2026
Adjective
The killing, often deliberate, of more than twenty thousand children in Gaza injured consciences, not purses, and consciences could be managed with some ritual censuring of Benjamin Netanyahu or his proudly bigoted colleagues. — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026 The gratitude-and-connection micro-ritual will merge with existing communication habits. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ritual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ritual
  1. habit
  2. ceremony
  3. ceremonial
  4. practice
  5. rite
  6. liturgical
  7. trick
  8. observance
Noun
  • Consumer habits also proved more stubbornly set than PowerPoint presentations had suggested.
    — Alyson Shontell, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
  • But the intensity of its consumerism and the import of its traditions also have a habit of freaking people out.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of habit
Noun
  • The ceremony also caps a year in which ARIA marked its 40th anniversary with a standalone Hall of Fame event in June, inducting Gurrumul, Jenny Morris, Kate Ceberano, Spiderbait, The Living End, and Vika & Linda.
    — Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 6 Oct. 2026
  • An unusual treat is the co-ed soaking pool, overlooking Lake Mishkin, which allows families to plunge and relax together before or after their treatments, which run the gamut from massage to sound bath to tea ceremonies.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of ceremony
Adjective
  • The ceremonial ringing of the bell to open the market also signified the release of our latest ranking of Europe’s biggest businesses.
    — Sam Forsdick, Fortune, 6 Oct. 2026
  • This observance is both a celebration of the goddess’s victory and a ceremonial farewell.
    — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of ceremonial
Noun
  • The measure would end the twice-yearly practice of changing clocks observed across most of the nation since the 1960s.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Their bye week consisted of wild-card watch parties, batting practice, live pitching — from a long list of arms on Wednesday, especially — and an open workout Thursday that culminated in a scrimmage.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of practice
Noun
  • The rite symbolizes the deceased's final departure from the world of the living and helps the family come to terms with the loss.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
  • This week heralds a new appreciation rite for the discerning reader.
    — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of rite
Adjective
  • Along with the album, U2 released two surprise EPs this year, Days of Ash and Easter Lily, that turn out to be conceptually linked to the new album via the liturgical calendar, with carnival preceding Lent and Easter.
    — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2026
  • For seventeen years, graduation season had carried a liturgical cadence for him.
    — Benjamin Wofford, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of liturgical
Noun
  • Kids can explore an inflatable corn maze, go trick-or-treating, face painting and more.
    — John Coffren, Baltimore Sun, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Beamer’s acumen in the game’s third phase comes from father, Hall of Famer Frank Beamer, whose Virginia Tech teams won games by blocking kicks and using trick plays.
    — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of trick
Noun
  • Courts are closed In observance of California Native American Day, which is celebrated every year on the fourth Friday of September.
    — Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Groups of implicatures Grice identified three broad groups of implicatures generated through the observance, violation, or flouting of maxims in keeping with the cooperative principle.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of observance

Browse Nearby Words

rites
ritual
ritualistic
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Cite this Entry

“Ritual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ritual. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on ritual

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ritual

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