sanctifies
Renders spiritually pure
Sanctifies means makes holy or sacred.
A priest sanctifies bread and wine; a ceremony sanctifies a marriage.
More broadly, to sanctify is to give moral or religious approval: The tradition was sanctified by centuries of practice.
Something sanctified by time or custom gains legitimacy through long acceptance.
The word can carry irony when approval seems undeserved: Violence sanctified by the state.
Makes ritually holy
- blessesConsecrates or sanctifies
- hallowsMakes holy or reveres
- dedicatesCommits to a purpose
- anointsApplies consecrating oil
ordains · purifies · devotion · sacrament · ritual · altar · priest · holy
Changes form completely
- purifiesRemoves unwanted substances
- elevatesRaises in position
- upliftsRaises emotionally or physically
- transcendsGoes beyond usual limits
exalts · glorifies · ennobles · spiritualizes · renews · regenerates · converts · redeems
Provides adequate grounds for
- legitimizesMakes officially acceptable
- validatesConfirms accuracy or legitimacy
- vindicatesProves innocence or correctness
- absolvesDeclares someone not guilty
redeems · cleanses · purges · righteousness · virtue · purity · innocence · atonement
consecrates
Makes ritually holy
anoints · ordains · purifies · devotion · sacrament · ritual · altar · priest · holy · divine
transforms
Changes form completely
- purifiesRemoves unwanted substances
- elevatesRaises in position
- upliftsRaises emotionally or physically
transcends · exalts · glorifies · ennobles · spiritualizes · renews · regenerates · converts · redeems · enlightens
justifies
Provides adequate grounds for
- legitimizesMakes officially acceptable
- validatesConfirms accuracy or legitimacy
- vindicatesProves innocence or correctness
absolves · redeems · cleanses · purges · righteousness · virtue · purity · innocence · atonement · forgiveness
authorizes
Officially allows something
- endorsesGives public support to
- ratifiesFormally approves agreement
- approvesFormally accepts or endorses
confirms · validates · legitimates · warrants · sanctions · permits · allows · certifies · recognizes · upholds
sanctifiesdesecrates
Violates something sacred
profanes · defiles · blasphemes · sacrilege · violates
sanctifiescorrupts
Causes moral decline
contaminates · damns · taints · sullies · besmirches