as in church
the group ordained to perform clerical functions in the Christian church
when people find out she's a member of the clergy, they suddenly change their manner
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Recent Examples of clergy
The task force — made up of civic leaders, legal experts, clergy, and community representatives — spent months reviewing research and hearing from residents.
—
Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
The group participated in a foot-washing ritual before three clergy leaders made their way inside to administer pastoral care to those who wanted it.
—Frankie McLister, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
The lower classes and the clergy had always hated the Castilians, and the Portuguese aristocracy and the commercial classes—previously content with the patronage and the economic opportunities that the union with Spain had provided—had become dissatisfied during the preceding 20 years.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Khamenei did much the same by forcing the clergy to recognize him as the leader of the Islamic Revolution despite his lack of qualifications.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clergy
Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
The group participated in a foot-washing ritual before three clergy leaders made their way inside to administer pastoral care to those who wanted it.
—Frankie McLister, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
The lower classes and the clergy had always hated the Castilians, and the Portuguese aristocracy and the commercial classes—previously content with the patronage and the economic opportunities that the union with Spain had provided—had become dissatisfied during the preceding 20 years.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Khamenei did much the same by forcing the clergy to recognize him as the leader of the Islamic Revolution despite his lack of qualifications.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clergy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clergy
Noun
-
According to church officials, the federal government notified the organization in late March that the funding would be terminated.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Since then, Human Rights Watch asserted, the authorities have demolished hundreds of church buildings or the crosses atop them, prevented adherents from gathering in unofficial churches, restricted access to the Bible, and confiscated religious materials not authorized by the government.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The diaconate represents the Church’s third degree of holy orders, below the presbyterate, or priests, and episcopate, or bishops.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
5 Dec. 2025
-
Vatican observers have long speculated that Francis saw Prevost as a potential successor, especially given his rapid rise and central role in shaping the modern episcopate.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clergy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clergy. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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