Holy vs. Sacred

Holy vs. Sacred — Is There a Difference?
ADVERTISEMENT

Difference Between Holy and Sacred

Holyadjective

Dedicated to a religious purpose or a god.

I'm planning to visit the holy city of Jerusalem this Christmas.

Sacredadjective

Characterized by solemn religious ceremony or religious use, especially, in a positive sense; consecrated; made holy.

a sacred place; a sacred day; sacred service

Holyadjective

Revered in a religion.

Sacredadjective

Religious; relating to religion, or to the services of religion; not secular

Holyadjective

Perfect or flawless.

Sacredadjective

Spiritual; concerned with metaphysics.

ADVERTISEMENT

Holyadjective

Separated or set apart from (something unto something or someone else).

Sacredadjective

Designated or exalted by a divine sanction; possessing the highest title to obedience, honor, reverence, or veneration; entitled to extreme reverence; venerable.

Holyadjective

Set apart or dedicated for a specific purpose, or for use by a single entity or person.

Sacredadjective

Not to be profaned or violated; inviolable.

Holyadjective

(slang) Used as an intensifier in various interjections.

Holy cow, I can’t believe he actually lost the race!Those children next door are holy terrors!

Sacredadjective

(followed by the preposition "to") Consecrated; dedicated; devoted

ADVERTISEMENT

Holynoun

(archaic) A thing that is extremely holy; used almost exclusively in Holy of Holies.

Sacredadjective

(archaic) Solemnly devoted, in a bad sense, as to evil, vengeance, curse, or the like; accursed; baleful.

Holynoun

a sacred place of pilgrimage

Sacredverb

simple past tense and past participle of sacre

Holyadjective

belonging to or derived from or associated with a divine power

Sacredadjective

concerned with religion or religious purposes;

sacred textssacred ritessacred music

Sacredadjective

worthy of respect or dedication;

saw motherhood as woman's sacred calling

Sacredadjective

made or declared or believed to be holy; devoted to a deity or some religious ceremony or use;

a consecrated churshthe sacred mosquesacred elephantssacred bread and winesanctified wine

Sacredadjective

worthy of religious veneration;

the sacred name of JesusJerusalem's hallowed soil

Sacredadjective

(often followed by `to') devoted exclusively to a single use or purpose or person;

a fund sacred to charitya morning hour sacred to studya private office sacred to the President