1
as in consecration
the act of making something holy through religious ritual
the sacred site required another sanctification after it had been defiled by the invaders
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in purification
the act or fact of freeing from sin or moral guilt
the Christian belief that the suffering and death of Jesus was responsible for the sanctification of all humankind
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sanctification
After Fuqua does interesting work sowing seeds of folly amid the star’s glorious rise, the movie gives up and turns to total sanctification.
—
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026
The sanctification of Lee and other Confederate leaders, in turn, pushed the complexities of the surrender and of the Civil War era into the shadows, allowing the myth of Appomattox to flourish for more than a century.
— Made By History, Time, 9 Apr. 2025
The result is that liberal analysts prefer the sanctification of allies and the demonization of rivals to objective and informed analysis.
—Anatol Lieven, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
But Ii her death allows for her sanctification, the film doesn’t quite know how to represent her life.
—Alessa Dominguez, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2024
This sanctification was a crucial step in including medicine as its own advanced degree program at the first universities that were established around 1200 in Europe.
—Meg Leja, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Nov. 2023
Doing so is not a violation but a sanctification of Shabbat.
—Rabbi Avi Weiss, sun-sentinel.com, 7 Sep. 2021
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026
The sanctification of Lee and other Confederate leaders, in turn, pushed the complexities of the surrender and of the Civil War era into the shadows, allowing the myth of Appomattox to flourish for more than a century.
— Made By History, Time, 9 Apr. 2025
The result is that liberal analysts prefer the sanctification of allies and the demonization of rivals to objective and informed analysis.
—Anatol Lieven, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
But Ii her death allows for her sanctification, the film doesn’t quite know how to represent her life.
—Alessa Dominguez, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2024
This sanctification was a crucial step in including medicine as its own advanced degree program at the first universities that were established around 1200 in Europe.
—Meg Leja, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Nov. 2023
Doing so is not a violation but a sanctification of Shabbat.
—Rabbi Avi Weiss, sun-sentinel.com, 7 Sep. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanctification
Noun
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At this stage of his career, Hicks will have been part of many ceremonies; ordination as a deacon and then a priest, consecration as an auxiliary bishop and installation as bishop in Joliet, Illinois.—
Tony Aiello,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
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As a result, the consecration of bishops without papal consent is considered a grave threat to church unity and a cause of schism, since bishops can ordain new priests.—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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At the very least, clean it once a week to prevent mineral buildup and bacterial and mold growth, says Tim David, CEO at Airlucent, a company specializing in air purification.—
Terri Williams,
Architectural Digest,
16 Apr. 2026
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This is an album of spine-tingling purification.—
David Harris,
SPIN,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Both Haymes and Potteiger later insisted that their remarks were not sincere expressions of violent intent, but rather metaphorical calls for Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian, to find salvation in their brand of Christianity.—
Elizabeth Bruenig,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
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As a country born of genocide and built by slavery, the true patriots among us know that our greatest strength and salvation lie in our diversity.—
Melody Moezzi,
Mercury News,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The songs were radiant, ecstatic, and cleansing, a deep exhale from a band freed from boardroom expectations.—
Dan Stahl,
New Yorker,
1 May 2026
-
The 2025 Best of Beauty Award-winning Biolage’s Color Last Shampoo and Conditioner are designed to help do just that, using a gentle cleansing base paired with conditioning agents to keep hair soft without stripping your shade.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sanctification.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sanctification. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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