Synonyms for ceremonious
- adjective
Most common
All synonyms
Adjective
1. Formal
formal, punctilious, courtly, pompous, stately, respectful, stiff, prim, courteous, civil, conventional, starched, mannerly, polite, ceremonial dated
Other
Definitions
- adj. 1
According to the required or usual ceremonies, formalities, or rituals; specifically (Christianity, obsolete), to ceremonial laws in the Bible.
Related words
- Word family
- ceremoniously
Choose the right word
When applied to things, these words usually denote a mere accordance with the rules of form or ceremony; as, to make a formal call; to take a ceremonious leave.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Example sentences
- formal The premier paid a formal visit to the White House.
- pompous It's much too pompous for such a trivial thing.
- punctilious My grandmother was punctilious about table manners.
- circumstantial For circumstantial evidence, that's plenty.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| ceremonious | steady | |
| formal | steady | |
| pompous | rising | |
| courtly | rising | |
| punctilious | steady | |
| circumstantial | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- prim1
- 5 letters
- civil2, stiff1
- 6 letters
- formal2, polite2
- 7 letters
- pompous2, stately2, courtly2
- 8 letters
- starched1, mannerly
- 9 letters
- courteous3
- 10 letters
- respectful3, ceremonial5
- 11 letters
- punctilious4
- 12 letters
- conventional4
- 14 letters
- circumstantial4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (civil2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- cérémonieux
- Italiano
- cerimonioso
- Deutsch
- förmlich