sacred

Kept for religious use and treated with great respect.

• This is a sacred place.
• Only the priest may touch the sacred objects.
• Visitors must remain quiet inside the sacred building.

Similar words: holy, consecrated

Opposites: profane

Common phrases: sacred place, sacred ground, sacred objects, sacred site

So important that it must never be broken, changed, or harmed.

• A promise is sacred to him.
• They believe every person’s rights are sacred.
• Our Sunday lunch is sacred; nobody may cancel it.

How to use it: sacred to someone (Her privacy is sacred to her.)

Similar words: inviolable, untouchable

Common phrases: sacred duty, sacred promise, sacred right

Connected with religion or religious ceremonies.

• The choir sings sacred music.
• She studies sacred art from several countries.
• These sacred texts are read during the service.

Similar words: religious

Opposites: secular

Common phrases: sacred music, sacred texts, sacred art

Given or commanded by a god.

• They obeyed the sacred command.
• The ruler claimed sacred authority from the gods.
• Believers considered these rules part of sacred law.

Similar words: divine

Common phrases: sacred authority, sacred command, sacred law

Set apart or kept especially for someone or something.

• The temple was sacred to the goddess.
• This garden is sacred to his mother’s memory.
• They raised a monument sacred to the fallen soldiers.

How to use it: sacred to someone/something (The shrine was sacred to the goddess of wisdom.)

Similar words: dedicated, devoted

Common phrases: sacred to someone, sacred to memory