semireligious

American  

[sem-ee-ri-lij-uhs, sem-ahy-] / ˌsɛm i rɪˈlɪdʒ əs, ˌsɛm aɪ- /

adjective

1. having a somewhat religious character.

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Etymology

Origin of semireligious

First recorded in 1860–65; semi- + religious

Example Sentences

Even at the Tokyo Games last summer, visitors in somewhat looser pandemic protocols enjoyed the semireligious privilege of entering the city’s ubiquitous, and surprisingly tasty, convenience stores.

From New York Times • Feb. 16, 2022

“There’s something semireligious to the way he offers a part of his body to repair a part of her body,” Ms. Murphy said at a preview of the exhibition.

From New York Times • Jul. 12, 2016

The network’s semi-live, semireligious musical pageant “The Passion” on Sunday night recalled a lot of modern television spectacles meant to circumvent the DVR — Super Bowl halftimes, “American Idol,” New Year’s Eve broadcasts.

From New York Times • Mar. 21, 2016

Four World War I soldiers say farewell to arms and go over the top the wrong way in The Vision, a semireligious fable.

From Time Magazine Archive

All activity in this area was confined to the period 1824-1834, and was carried on by necessity through well organized, semimilitary, semireligious expeditions.

From The Aboriginal Population of the North Coast of California by Cook, Sherburne Friend