as in to depose
to remove from a position of prominence or power (as a throne)
the movie's director was defrocked for going way over budget
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Recent Examples of defrock
He was removed from public ministry in 2003 and defrocked in 2020, but does not appear to have been charged in any criminal cases, the report said.
—
Laura Schulte, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Robert Herguth, Chicago Sun-Times, Journal Sentinel, 12 Dec. 2024
Baker remained in the ministry until 2000, when he was defrocked, church records show.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2024
David Kerr, a spokesman for the Diocese of Lansing, said now that DeLorenzo has pleaded guilty he will be formally defrocked.
—Corky Siemaszko, NBC News, 27 Apr. 2023
One exception is former cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who was defrocked in 2019 after abuse allegations surfaced.
—Fredrick Kunkle, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2023
See All Example Sentences for defrock
Laura Schulte, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Robert Herguth, Chicago Sun-Times, Journal Sentinel, 12 Dec. 2024
Baker remained in the ministry until 2000, when he was defrocked, church records show.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2024
David Kerr, a spokesman for the Diocese of Lansing, said now that DeLorenzo has pleaded guilty he will be formally defrocked.
—Corky Siemaszko, NBC News, 27 Apr. 2023
One exception is former cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who was defrocked in 2019 after abuse allegations surfaced.
—Fredrick Kunkle, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2023
See All Example Sentences for defrock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defrock
Verb
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The Facebook comment about Tiffany Turner was eventually entered into evidence, and lawyers asked to depose Kennedy in their cases.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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The committee was scheduled to depose former Attorney General Pam Bondi on April 14, but that session was canceled this week after the Department of Justice said she was subpoenaed as attorney general.—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Twenty-four years earlier, Lucescu won the Turkish Super Lig with another of that city’s clubs, Galatasaray, but was sacked at the end of the season.—
Colin Millar,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2026
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His last year was his best, though he was sacked 36 times.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defrock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defrock. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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