1
a
: dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity
a tree sacred to the gods
b
: devoted exclusively to one service or use (as of a person or purpose)
a fund sacred to charity
2
a
: worthy of religious veneration : holy
b
: entitled to reverence and respect
3
: of or relating to religion : not secular or profane
sacred music
4
archaic
: accursed
5
a
b
: highly valued and important
a sacred responsibility
sacredly
adverb
sacredness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of sacred in a Sentence
The burial site is sacred ground.
the sacred image of the Virgin Mary
the sacred pursuit of liberty
We have a sacred duty to find out the truth.
Freedom is a sacred right.
They'll make jokes about anything. Nothing is sacred to those guys.
I can't believe they would do that. Is nothing sacred?
Recent Examples on the Web
And first-century Celtic druids apparently used mistletoe to make a sacred fertility elixir—one historic use that presaged the plant’s now-dominant identity as an excuse for kissing.
—
Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Nov. 2024
For pilgrims, the pinnacle of the festival is a dip in the sacred waters on auspicious days—an act believed to cleanse the faithful of their sins.
—Selina Denman, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Nov. 2024
Cacao was used by the pre-Columbian populations of the Maya and Aztecs, who venerated it as a sacred food.
—Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 19 Nov. 2024
The canyon has long been considered sacred by Native people and, more recently, holy by pilgrims and unique by New Age mystics and psychics who believe in its spiritual powers.
—Tasha Zemke, Outside Online, 15 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sacred 
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Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Nov. 2024
For pilgrims, the pinnacle of the festival is a dip in the sacred waters on auspicious days—an act believed to cleanse the faithful of their sins.
—Selina Denman, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Nov. 2024
Cacao was used by the pre-Columbian populations of the Maya and Aztecs, who venerated it as a sacred food.
—Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 19 Nov. 2024
The canyon has long been considered sacred by Native people and, more recently, holy by pilgrims and unique by New Age mystics and psychics who believe in its spiritual powers.
—Tasha Zemke, Outside Online, 15 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sacred
Dictionary Entries Near sacred
Cite this Entry
“Sacred.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sacred. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sacred
adjective
sa·cred
ˈsā-krəd 
1
: set apart in honor of someone (as a god)
a mountain sacred to Jupiter
2
: holy sense 3
the sacred name of Jesus
3
: religious entry 1 sense 2
sacred songs
4
: deserving respect or honor
a sacred right
sacredly
adverb
sacredness
noun
Etymology
Middle English sacred "sacred," derived from early French sacrer "to make holy, dedicate to God," from Latin sacrare (same meaning), from sacr-, sacer "sacred, holy" — related to consecrate, sacrifice
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