1
as in to purge
to free from moral guilt or blemish especially ceremonially
received the sacrament of penance, whereby they were sanctified and restored to divine grace
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2
as in to bless
to make holy through prayers or ritual
sanctify the bread for Communion
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Recent Examples of sanctify
With an original seating capacity of 800 on 20 rows of pews divided into three sections, the buff brick church, trimmed in limestone, was sanctified almost 70 years ago in 1955.
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Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 12 May 2024
The priest at the church, which had been sanctified by the recent arrival of some saintly relics from Rome, tried talking to the demon living in the girl’s body.
—Matthew Gabriele, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Dec. 2024
If Saturday’s game likely won’t be as low-scoring affair as the one Rice sanctified 100 years ago, both offenses may be in for a long day; having given up just 10.3 points per game this season, Army boasts the game’s second-stingiest D, while the Irish are No. 3 (11.4).
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 22 Nov. 2024
The same mirrors that were instruments for Jewish continuity in Egypt helped sanctify the basin used by the priests to prepare themselves for the Temple service.
—Rabbi Avi Weiss, Sun Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2024
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Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanctify
Verb
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The ceremony, which attracted a mix of comedy stars and arts-adjacent members of D.C.’s beau monde, was the biggest event held by the center since February, when President Trump purged eighteen members of the nonpartisan board of directors and installed himself as chairman.—
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The Defense Department buckled down on its goals to continue purging DEI material even after the webpages were removed.—
Verb
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Their relationship is romantic in a platonic sense, yet there is also nothing wrong with shipping these two — God bless.—
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The beautiful island of Jamaica, which I am blessed enough to call home, was not just a simple backdrop for our #Sheacation, but the country’s culture was truly engrained into every aspect of the trip.—
Verb
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Leading the way in the march, Aztec dancers purified the air with incense made by burning the resin of the copal trees.—
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Families often deep-clean homes to purify them during this time.—
Verb
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Bergoglio was consecrated into the priesthood as a Jesuit, a religious order explicitly averse to moving up within the ranks of the church hierarchy.—
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The creators of this medieval masterpiece have been lost to time, but it’s believed to have been commissioned by Odo, bishop of Bayeux and William’s half-brother, to decorate the nave of the new cathedral of Notre-Dame of Bayeux, which was consecrated in 1077.—
Cite this Entry
“Sanctify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sanctify. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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