HOLY GRAIL Synonyms: 37 Similar and Opposite Words

holy grail

noun

Definition of holy grail

as in plan

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of holy grail Navigating a changing climate, Marian develops interspecies alliances on a quest for the holy grail. — Kelly Presutti, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Instead, volumizing mascara lovers may just have found their new holy grail, particularly those who want volume without clumping. — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026 Scientists are now eyeing other hearing-loss targets, including the holy grail — the GJB2 gene. — O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 11 Aug. 2026 This is the technology that is considered the holy grail for the next era. — Paxton Honerkamp, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026 While many lip products promise color that doesn’t smear and lasts all day, nothing compares to my holy grail, the Wonderskin Wonder Blading All-Day Lip Stain. — Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 2 Aug. 2026 Why are these ballots kind of the holy grail about the 2020 election, ma’am? — Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026 Below, shop our eight Quince must-haves, including holy grail designs in breezy linen, washable silk, and Italian leather. — Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 6 July 2026 Best Linen Matching Sets Deals Versatile matching sets are the holy grail of travel outfits, designed to look pulled together with minimal effort or styling. — Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for holy grail

Noun

Alignment on a plan does not rescue a plan that does not compound customer value.

— Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
The Vikings will use him on special teams and as a game-plan-specific blitzer.

— Alec Lewis, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of plan

Noun

When a human accepts, rejects or overrides the agent, the organization can reconstruct why—not from a comment field that made sense to the person who wrote it, but from a structured record that holds its meaning after they're gone.

— Krupesh Bhat, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Below, learn more about Princess Margaret’s unique engagement ring, her relationship with Antony, and the personal meaning behind her granddaughter’s choice to wear the heirloom.

— Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of meaning

Noun

If the show is now being repositioned as just for people who are fresh out of design school or who have made just one or two gowns before (like, cough, our beloved Jude), then say that.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Companies typically pass on at least some of those increases to workers, either through higher premium contributions or plan-design changes, such as larger deductibles or copays.

— Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of design

Noun

At this point in the news cycle, unity, or at least something approximating it, needs to be the chief league objective.

— Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
The researchers then use classifier guidance at inference time to steer the diffusion model toward objectives that were not included during training.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of objective

Noun

Sight lines then become site lines, as many art objects, like the Bateman Mercury, gaze beyond the museum toward Los Angeles, at nearby buildings or the distant surrounding hills.

— George Baker, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
The pulls of our star and planet equal the centripetal force needed for a smaller object to stay in place.

— Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of object

Noun

Anthropic wanted assurance that its technology would not be used for fully autonomous weapons or domestic mass surveillance, and the DOD wanted Anthropic to grant the agency unfettered access to Claude across all lawful purposes.

— Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Thankfully, his reappearance in the show actually has a deeper purpose.

— Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of purpose

Noun

Transits are what revealed most of the more than 6,000 exoplanets now known, and Roman’s planners expect the bulge’s target-rich environment to yield on order of 100,000 more.

— Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 29 Aug. 2026
As a kinetic interceptor, Seeker appears designed to physically strike its target rather than rely on a conventional air-defense warhead.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of target

Noun

Scale changes reactor economics Traditional nuclear projects often require highly specialized components designed around individual plants.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026
While the Anaheim Ducks, located a stone’s throw from Angel Stadium, are in the midst of a massive refurbishment project, the area surrounding the baseball stadium is largely dormant.

— Sam Blum, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of project

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holy days

holy grail

holy grails

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“Holy grail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holy%20grail. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of holy grail

noun

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