sacred
Set apart, revered
Sacred means dedicated to religious purposes or connected to the divine: a sacred text, sacred ground, a sacred ritual.
What is sacred commands reverence and must not be violated or profaned.
The meaning extends to anything held inviolable: Nothing is sacred to these people.
A sacred cow is something exempt from criticism or questioning.
Spiritually awesome, beyond ordinary
- epiphanySudden profound insight
- ecstasyOverwhelming intense delight
- raptureOverwhelming ecstatic feeling
- illuminationProvision of light
beatific · vision · revelation · ineffable · theophany · apparition · transfiguration · miracle
Worshipped supernatural being
- godheadEssential nature of deity
- transcendentExceeding usual boundaries
- celestialOf the sky above
- almightyHaving complete power
eternal · omnipotent · omniscient · creator · supreme · savior · messiah · salvation
Profound admiring respect
- aweReverent fear and wonder
- worshipReligious reverence and praise
- adorationProfound loving regard
- homageExpression of deep respect
devotion · piety · respect · solemnity · glorification · praise · honor · deference
Exempt from criticism or harm
- hallowedMade or regarded holy
- tabooCultural or social prohibition
- forbiddenNot allowed
- protectedKept from harm
inviolate · unbreakable · absolute · off-limits · restricted · revered · enshrined · covenant
Formal event marking occasions
- liturgyFormal worship structure
- riteCeremonial act or practice
- altarSacred ritual table
- incantationSpoken magical formula
chant · vestments · ordination · communion · baptism · mass · pilgrimage · fasting
Focused attention practice
- enlightenmentProfound spiritual awakening
- transcendenceSurpassing usual limits
- nirvanaRelease from cyclical existence
- karmaSpiritual cause and effect
mantra · chakra · satori · zen · dharma · asceticism · soul · afterlife
numinous
Spiritually awesome, beyond ordinary
- epiphanySudden profound insight
- ecstasyOverwhelming intense delight
- raptureOverwhelming ecstatic feeling
illumination · beatific · vision · revelation · ineffable · theophany · apparition · transfiguration · miracle · wonder
deity
Worshipped supernatural being
- godheadEssential nature of deity
- transcendentExceeding usual boundaries
- celestialOf the sky above
almighty · eternal · omnipotent · omniscient · creator · supreme · savior · messiah · salvation · benediction
veneration
Profound admiring respect
homage · devotion · piety · respect · solemnity · glorification · praise · honor · deference · genuflection
untouchable
Exempt from criticism or harm
protected · inviolate · unbreakable · absolute · off-limits · restricted · revered · enshrined · covenant · oath
ceremony
Formal event marking occasions
incantation · chant · vestments · ordination · communion · baptism · mass · pilgrimage · fasting · prayer
meditation
Focused attention practice
- enlightenmentProfound spiritual awakening
- transcendenceSurpassing usual limits
- nirvanaRelease from cyclical existence
karma · mantra · chakra · satori · zen · dharma · asceticism · soul · afterlife · cosmos
shrine
Sacred devotional place
- templeSacred worship structure
- tabernaclePortable sacred dwelling
- altarSacred ritual table
grove · mosque · church · synagogue · pagoda · stupa · ziggurat · cathedral · chapel · mecca
scripture
Sacred religious writings
psalm · hymn · mantra · testament · revelation · prophecy · hadith · doctrine · dogma · commandment
- mythsmyth, legend, fable, fairy tale, folk tale
- sacredholy, holiness, divine, hallowed, sanctified
- Heavenlycelestial, divine, eternal, paradise, halo
- Mysticalethereal, otherworldly, supernatural, numinous, transcendent
- worshippraying, congregational prayer, adoration, praise God, evening prayer
- special qualitiesunique, rare, exclusive, exceptional, extraordinary
sacredprofane
Irreverent toward the sacred
unholy · blasphemous · cursed · sacrilegious · ungodly
sacredvulnerable
Open to attack
violable · unprotected · expendable · disposable · open
- sacred ritesReligious ceremonial practices
- sacred landsTerritory with spiritual significance
- sacred songReligious musical composition
- sacred cowExempt from criticism
- ultimate sacrificeDying for a cause
- sacred placeConsecrated location for worship
sacrifice, sacrament, sacrilege, sacrosanct, sacredness, sacrilegious, sacramental, sacrilegiously