ritualism

[ rich-oo-uh-liz-uh m ]

/ ˈrɪtʃ u əˌlɪz əm /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR ritualism ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

adherence to or insistence on ritual.

the study of ritual practices or religious rites.

excessive fondness for ritual.

Nearby words

ritter's disease, ritter, tex, ritual, ritual bath, ritual murder, ritualism, ritualist, ritualistic, ritualization, ritualize, ritualized

Origin of ritualism

First recorded in 1835–45; ritual + -ism

Related forms

rit·u·al·is·tic, adjectiverit·u·al·is·ti·cal·ly, adverban·ti·rit·u·al·ism, nounan·ti·rit·u·al·is·tic, adjective

hy·per·rit·u·al·ism, nounhy·per·rit·u·a·lis·tic, adjectivenon·rit·u·al·is·tic, adjectivenon·rit·u·al·is·ti·cal·ly, adverbun·rit·u·al·is·tic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for ritualistic

Students moan and growl and shriek and yawp, as if exorcising demons in a ritualistic ceremony.
How Taryn Toomey’s ‘The Class’ Became New York’s Latest Fitness Craze|Lizzie Crocker|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
There was even a free-spirited frock made of ropes, which flung about through her ritualistic dance.
Gareth Pugh's Fashion Show Lacked Fashion, But Not Passion|Justin Jones|September 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They repeat tasks over and over with a ritualistic and often perfectionist bent.
Why Tourette’s May Be Tim Howard’s Secret Weapon on the Field|Michael Daly|July 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This junkie is about to begin a three-day, neo-African, sometimes-terrifying, ritualistic trip.
Hallucinating Away a Heroin Addiction|Abby Haglage|May 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST

How did the troubled young girl go about drawing sex acts in her notebook that mirrored the ritualistic killings?
True Detective’s Red Herring: Actress Erin Moriarty, Who Plays Marty’s Daughter, Tells All|Marlow Stern|March 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But he works, thankful to be left alone by his bishop: for war has declared a close time for ritualistic curates.
War and the Weird|Forbes Phillips
The passing of a dish was invested with a ritualistic essence.
Ladies and Gentlemen |Irvin S. (Irvin Shrewsbury) Cobb
The edifice cost £15,000, and was at the opening signalized by ritualistic disturbances.
Mayfair, Belgravia, and Bayswater|Geraldine Edith Mitton
Thus in ancient India the holy fire was kindled anew each morning, and honoured with ritualistic observances (Agnihotra).
The Christ Myth|Arthur Drews
She is rather glad to see them, as life with an "intense" sister is at times trying, and the ritualistic curate is from home.
Mrs. Geoffrey|Duchess

British Dictionary definitions for ritualistic (1 of 2)

ritualistic

/ (ˌrɪtjʊəˈlɪstɪk) /

adjective

of, relating to, or suggestive of ritualism

Derived Formsritualistically, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for ritualistic (2 of 2)

ritualism

/ (ˈrɪtjʊəˌlɪzəm) /

noun

emphasis, esp exaggerated emphasis, on the importance of rites and ceremonies

the study of rites and ceremonies, esp magical or religious ones

Derived Formsritualist, 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

Word Origin and History for ritualistic

ritualistic

adj.

1844, from ritualist "one versed in or devoted to rituals" (1650s; see ritual) + -ic. Related: Ritualism (1838).

ritualism

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of ritualism

Examples from the Web for ritualistic

British Dictionary definitions for ritualistic (1 of 2)

ritualistic

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for ritualistic (2 of 2)

ritualism

noun

Word Origin and History for ritualistic

ritualistic