holier; holiest
1
: exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness
2
: divine
for the Lord our God is holy—
Psalms 99:9 (King James Version)
Psalms 99:9 (King James Version)3
: devoted entirely to the deity or the work of the deity
a holy temple
holy prophets
4
a
: having a divine quality
holy love
b
: venerated as or as if sacred
holy scripture
a holy relic
5
—used as an intensive
this is a holy mess
he was a holy terror when he drank—Thomas Wolfe
—often used in combination as a mild oathThomas Wolfeholy smoke
Examples of holy in a Sentence
a holy relic worn by one of the saints
the holy monk spent many hours on his knees in prayer
Recent Examples on the Web
The label’s Orange tab, for one, is a holy grail for 1960s-era flared jeans; the Silver tab reflects grungier styles from the 1980s and 1990s.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 30 Jan. 2025
Chandler is one of several side characters John encounters on his journey who stand in for the hoards of people who encouraged him, either explicitly or implicitly, to pursue North Sentinel as a holy grail.
—Natalia Winkelman, IndieWire, 28 Jan. 2025
Relics can admittedly feel a bit morbid – and yet, so holy.
—Therese Cory, The Conversation, 28 Jan. 2025
Cosmetics to launch the brand's new complexion holy grail, Halo Glow Powder Filter — an ultra-fine pressed powder that blurs the appearance of skin and reduces shine for a soft-focus glow.
—Catherine Santino, People.com, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for holy 
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Christian Allaire, Vogue, 30 Jan. 2025
Chandler is one of several side characters John encounters on his journey who stand in for the hoards of people who encouraged him, either explicitly or implicitly, to pursue North Sentinel as a holy grail.
—Natalia Winkelman, IndieWire, 28 Jan. 2025
Relics can admittedly feel a bit morbid – and yet, so holy.
—Therese Cory, The Conversation, 28 Jan. 2025
Cosmetics to launch the brand's new complexion holy grail, Halo Glow Powder Filter — an ultra-fine pressed powder that blurs the appearance of skin and reduces shine for a soft-focus glow.
—Catherine Santino, People.com, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for holy
Dictionary Entries Near holy
Cite this Entry
“Holy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/holy. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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