consecrated

8 synonyms and 3 antonyms for consecrated, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adjective — Formally declared sacred and set apart for religious use.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

blessed sacred dedicated devoted

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

ordained

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

sanctified hallowed consecrate

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adjective

Formally declared sacred and set apart for religious use.

“He was buried in consecrated ground.”

sanctified hallowed blessed sacred dedicated consecrate

Opposites

desecrated deconsecrated profane

2. verb

Past tense and past participle of consecrate: to declare something sacred, to ordain someone to a sacred office, or to devote something wholly to a purpose.

“The archbishop consecrated the new cathedral in 1962.”

blessed ordained dedicated devoted

How to use consecrated

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

consecrated ground consecrated bread consecrated to the service of

Religious and formal; the figurative sense of devoting something entirely to a cause is literary.

Etymology

From Latin consecrare "to make sacred", from con- (intensive) and sacrare "to dedicate", from sacer "sacred".

Full origin of consecrated →

Frequently asked questions

What is consecrated ground?

It is land, usually a churchyard or part of a cemetery, that has been formally blessed and set apart for burial according to a religious rite. Historically some churches refused burial there to people outside the faith, and the phrase still carries that weight in literature.

What is the difference between consecrated and blessed?

A blessing asks for favour or protection and can be given to almost anything, from a meal to a fishing fleet. Consecration is a formal, usually once-only act that permanently sets a person, building or object apart for sacred use. All consecration involves blessing; not all blessing consecrates.

Can a church be unconsecrated?

Yes. When a church is closed or sold for another use, many denominations hold a service of deconsecration, formally releasing the building from sacred use so it can become a home, a shop or a concert hall.

People also searched

dedicated blessed devoted sacred ordained hallowed consecrate profane sanctified desecrated

Nearby words

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