Holy
“Dedicated or consecrated to a deity or religious purpose, or possessing a quality of supreme moral or spiritual purity.”
Synonyms by Register & Formality
Nuance Analysis & Word Contrasts
While 'holy' implies an inherent, often divine quality of purity, 'sacred' is often used to describe things set apart for a specific religious purpose. 'Hallowed' carries a sense of historical or emotional reverence, often associated with places or memories. Use 'holy' when referring to the essential nature of a being or object, whereas 'sanctified' implies an action has been taken to make something holy.
holy vs sacred
Holy describes an intrinsic, often divine state of being, whereas sacred describes something that has been set apart or dedicated to a holy purpose.
holy vs divine
Divine refers specifically to the nature of a god or the heavens, while holy refers to the moral or spiritual perfection associated with that nature.