as in towers
a large, magnificent, or massive building
the company didn't want just a new office building—it demanded a cathedral that proclaimed its place among the giants of finance
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Recent Examples of cathedrals
Gothic architecture, on the other hand, focused on height and light; despite being constructed from heavy stone, Gothic cathedrals seem to defy the laws of gravity.
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Stefanie Waldek, Architectural Digest, 9 Jan. 2026
But such uses are anomalies in the long-term transformation of stadiums from working-class cathedrals for the people into luxury palaces for the rich.
—John Seabrook, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
The granite peaks that stood above us like stone cathedrals reached skyward past 8,600 feet.
—Will Rice, Outside, 13 Nov. 2025
Gothic cathedrals, art deco villas, vintage yellow trams, impeccably dressed signore, bright red Negronis glinting in the sun—these are some of the most classic symbols of Milan, but there’s a whole other side to the city, one that’s contemporary, cosmopolitan, and just plain cool.
—Laura Itzkowitz, AFAR Media, 3 Oct. 2025
There are marching bands performing it and choirs singing it in cathedrals in Europe.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2025
England's historic cathedrals are costly to maintain.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2025
In an Instagram reel posted on her page (also shared by YouTube page My Husband is My Best Friend), the Basketball Wives LA star is sipping wine and engaging in tourist behavior like exploring monumental cathedrals with the Sacramento Kings coach before summer 2025 bows out.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 2 Sep. 2025
That is, a need to look beyond a single generation to address civilization-scale projects, as happened during the history of the building of the great cathedrals of Europe.
—Bruce Dorminey, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cathedrals
Noun
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Cell phone towers may be damaged or overloaded.—
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Built during the 12th through 16th centuries, these medieval masterpieces were born out of Romanesque architecture, which saw churches designed with thick walls, round arches, and large towers.—
Noun
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Time captive within the grand edifices of the past, parading on the stage of memory.—
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Non-Orientable Nkansa, 2017, one of his earliest large-scale installations, announced his dedication to monumental assemblages that fixate on negligence and crumbling edifices.—
Noun
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The subway line will eventually run beneath Roman landmarks including Trajan's Column, the Basilica of Maxentius and the Vatican, in addition to Renaissance palaces.—
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Ski resorts are struggling to open runs, walk-through ice palaces can’t be built, and the owner of a horse stable hopes that her customers will be satisfied with riding wagons instead of sleighs under majestic Rocky Mountain peaks.—
Noun
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In all, more than 8,000 California wildfires blackened 525,223 acres, killed 31 people and burned 16,512 structures in the past year, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.—
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The Palisades fire killed 12 people and destroyed more than 6,000 structures, becoming the third-most destructive fire in state history.—
Cite this Entry
“Cathedrals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cathedrals. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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