as in to consecrate
formal
to mark (something) officially or formally especially with a religious ceremony
The priest solemnized their marriage.
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Recent Examples of solemnize
Lee signs bill allowing officiants to decline to perform marriages
Lee quietly signed into law a bill allowing officiants to decline to solemnize marriages for any reason, which has been criticized by the LGBTQ community as antagonistic.
—
Vivian Jones, The Tennessean, 3 Feb. 2025
In one temple, an officiant claimed that his facility had solemnized 1,500 mixed marriages over the last five years.
—Ira Trivedi, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2013
The vows were solemnized by Hunter S. Thompson who was an ordained minister.
—Rory Feehan, SPIN, 9 Nov. 2023
Once received, the license must be solemnized with a ceremony conducted by someone recognized as having the legal power do so.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2020
According to custom in these conservative Hindu communities, while weddings are often solemnized at very young ages, a bride typically is sent to live with her husband’s family and consummate the union in her teens.
—Author: Shashank Bengali, Anchorage Daily News, 24 June 2018
Paper can also help us with solemnizing our transactions — making them official.
—David Scharfenberg, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Apr. 2018
There is no marker to solemnize the death of the Spurs' unmatched dynasty: RIP 1997-2017.
—Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 11 Feb. 2018
Vivian Jones, The Tennessean, 3 Feb. 2025
In one temple, an officiant claimed that his facility had solemnized 1,500 mixed marriages over the last five years.
—Ira Trivedi, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2013
The vows were solemnized by Hunter S. Thompson who was an ordained minister.
—Rory Feehan, SPIN, 9 Nov. 2023
Once received, the license must be solemnized with a ceremony conducted by someone recognized as having the legal power do so.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2020
According to custom in these conservative Hindu communities, while weddings are often solemnized at very young ages, a bride typically is sent to live with her husband’s family and consummate the union in her teens.
—Author: Shashank Bengali, Anchorage Daily News, 24 June 2018
Paper can also help us with solemnizing our transactions — making them official.
—David Scharfenberg, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Apr. 2018
There is no marker to solemnize the death of the Spurs' unmatched dynasty: RIP 1997-2017.
—Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 11 Feb. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for solemnize
Verb
-
The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract.—
Kary Love,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
-
Griswold—whose father, once the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, consecrated the denomination’s first openly gay bishop—treats the pastors generously, though gingerly, constructing from their lowest moments an affecting study of sacred life in sacrilegious times.—
Dan Piepenbring,
Harper's Magazine,
2 Aug. 2024
Verb
-
Earlier this month, Middleton honored World Cancer Day ahead of a visit to the National Portrait Gallery in London.—
Hannah Malach,
WWD,
11 Feb. 2025
-
The Defense Department changed it to Fort Liberty in 2023 as part of a broader initiative to rename nearly a dozen military installations that had previously honored Confederate leaders.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
11 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Set collective benchmarks, whether improving efficiency or patient outcomes, and celebrate those achievements together.—
Johnny C. Taylor Jr.,
USA TODAY,
19 Feb. 2025
-
On March 8, Gaga will celebrate her second time hosting SNL and her fifth time performing on the sketch show.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
18 Feb. 2025
Verb
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During the visit, the Dalai Lama blessed a 3-foot-tall Bodhi tree for the campus.—
Lou Ponsi,
Orange County Register,
11 Feb. 2025
-
After the party, Ronnie led a Communion service and blessed the small congregation with holy water.—
Lawrence Wright,
The New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
God is so intimately present to his friends, the saints, that their very bodies are sanctified by his presence.—
Therese Cory,
The Conversation,
28 Jan. 2025
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Then, having contributed to the destruction of their careers and livelihoods, he, along with a fellow House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) informant, the screenwriter Budd Schulberg, made On the Waterfront, a film that not only defends but sanctifies informants.—
airmail.news,
airmail.news,
23 Nov. 2024
Verb
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The annual Hindu festival commemorates the moment when Lord Murugan received a sacred spear from the Goddess Parvati to defeat evil.—
Alan Taylor,
The Atlantic,
14 Feb. 2025
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Wahlberg also commemorated the holiday with a photo of him and his children that was snapped during their recent New Years' vacation in St. James, Barbados.—
Sharareh Drury,
People.com,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Amidst growing tension, Childress praised the teams' decision to challenge the agreement, highlighting the need for fairness within the sport.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
8 Feb. 2025
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Zach Seidl, a spokesperson for Bass, praised Soboroff’s lengthy record in the city, working to develop Playa Vista, bringing Staples Center — now Crypto.com Arena — to downtown and serving on the Board of Police Commissioners.—
Julia Wick,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near solemnize
Cite this Entry
“Solemnize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/solemnize. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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