sacred

[sey-krid]

adjective

1. devoted or dedicated to a deity or to some religious purpose; consecrated.

2. entitled to veneration or religious respect by association with divinity or divine things; holy.

   Synonyms: venerable, divine
   Antonyms: blasphemous

3. pertaining to or connected with religion (secular orprofane ).

   sacred music;

   sacred books.

4. reverently dedicated to some person, purpose, or object.

   a morning hour sacred to study.

   Synonyms: consecrated

5. regarded with reverence.

   the sacred memory of a dead hero.

   Synonyms: revered

6. secured against violation, infringement, etc., as by reverence or sense of right.

   sacred oaths; sacred rights.

   Synonyms: sacrosanct

7. properly immune from violence, interference, etc., as a person or office.

   Synonyms: inviolable, inviolate

sacred

/ ˈseɪkrɪd /

adjective

1. exclusively devoted to a deity or to some religious ceremony or use; holy; consecrated

2. worthy of or regarded with reverence, awe, or respect

3. protected by superstition or piety from irreligious actions

4. connected with or intended for religious use

   sacred music

5. dedicated to; in honour of

Other Word Forms

• sacredly adverb
• sacredness noun
• nonsacred adjective
• nonsacredly adverb
• nonsacredness noun
• pseudosacred adjective
• semisacred adjective
• supersacred adjective
• unsacred adjective
• unsacredly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of sacred¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, originally past participle of sacren “to consecrate,” from Latin sacrāre “to devote,” derivative of sacer “holy”; -ed ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of sacred¹

C14: from Latin sacrāre to set apart as holy, from sacer holy

Synonym Study

See holy.

Example Sentences

He soon came to believe that the desk on which he had written the Declaration would become a sacred relic.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Instead of being stored like museum pieces, Ms. Wilson writes, the plates now shine on the table “like sacred vessels.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"No threat, intimidation, or call for violence will deter us from that sacred obligation," they said in a joint statement.

Read more on BBC

Many religious Hindus saw the mosque as a symbol of Islamic triumphalism built on a site Hindus regard as sacred.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“I know because I felt its pull after losing my son. I cradled vengeance like a second grief, a sacred companion. I told myself a story about right and wrong, about punishing the guilty.”

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• cherished www.thesaurus.com
• divine 
• hallowed 
• religious 
• revered 
• solemn 
• spiritual