ceremonious

[ ser-uh-moh-nee-uhs ]

See synonyms for: ceremonious ceremoniously ceremoniousness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

carefully observant of ceremony; formally or elaborately polite: He greeted his rival with a ceremonious display of friendship.
pertaining to, marked by, or consisting of ceremony; formal: a ceremonious reception.

Origin of ceremonious

1545–55; ceremony + -ous; compare Middle French cerimonieux<Late Latin caerimōniōsus

Other words for ceremonious

1	ceremonial; conventional, punctilious

See synonyms for ceremonious on Thesaurus.com

Other words from ceremonious

cer·e·mo·ni·ous·ly, adverb
cer·e·mo·ni·ous·ness, noun
an·ti·cer·e·mo·ni·ous, adjective
an·ti·cer·e·mo·ni·ous·ly, adverb
an·ti·cer·e·mo·ni·ous·ness, noun
non·cer·e·mo·ni·ous, adjective
non·cer·e·mo·ni·ous·ly, adverb
non·cer·e·mo·ni·ous·ness, noun
su·per·cer·e·mo·ni·ous, adjective
su·per·cer·e·mo·ni·ous·ly, adverb
su·per·cer·e·mo·ni·ous·ness, noun

Words that may be confused with ceremonious

ceremonial, ceremonious

Words Nearby ceremonious

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use ceremonious in a sentence

When I arrived back in Atlanta, where I live, the sand gathered underneath my feet on my car mat felt like a ceremonious parting gift.
A vacation town promises rest and relaxation. The water knows the truth. | Nneka M. Okona | August 26, 2021 | Vox
I thought it would be so fun and a ceremonious moment of everyone reuniting, but barely anyone is going in because everything is still weird.
‘Harder than I expected’: Confessions of a media employee on their experience returning to the office | Sara Guaglione | August 16, 2021 | Digiday
Levee: a ceremonious visit received by a distinguished person in the morning.
Gulliver's Travels | Jonathan Swift
Never, in paying a ceremonious call, stay more than twenty minutes, or less than ten.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness | Florence Hartley
Lady Hartledon was not to be thwarted on all points, and she insisted on a ceremonious christening.
Elster's Folly | Mrs. Henry Wood

The form is proper upon such occasions, but should be used only in the most ceremonious correspondence.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness | Florence Hartley
The cards made way for the supper, a meal almost as ceremonious, and quite as constant, as the dinner.
Journal of a Voyage to Brazil | Maria Graham

British Dictionary definitions for ceremonious

ceremonious

/ (ˌsɛrɪˈməʊnɪəs) /

adjective

especially or excessively polite or formal
observing ceremony; involving formalities

Derived forms of ceremonious

ceremoniously, adverb
ceremoniousness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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