pontifical

adjective

Definition of pontificalnext
as in opinionative
given to or marked by the forceful expression of strongly held opinions a theater critic known for his pontifical pronouncements on what is or is not worth seeing

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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 pontifical The bishops further authorized a new edition of the Roman Pontifical for pontifical Masses, expected to be completed by 2027, with Vatican approval pending for some rites, according to the Catholic News Agency. — Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025 In its report, the pontifical commission highlights failures in the Italian church. — Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025 The sprawling roughly 2,000-year-old property includes ancient Roman archaeological sites, farmlands, pontifical villas and lush papal gardens, with areas for organic farming and regenerative cultivation. — Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025 Related Articles For the past 40-plus years in the Philippines, Natori’s mother Angelita Cruz has been very close to the nuncios (who act as pontifical ambassadors), the designer said. — Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 18 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for pontifical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pontifical
  1. opinionated
  2. dogmatic
  3. stubborn
  4. adamant
  5. doctrinaire
Adjective
  • Clear, opinionated writing meets more resistance than writing designed to please everyone.
    — Deepa Nagraj, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Some of his best work came from behind the Weekend Update desk, particularly as the always-opinionated Drunk Uncle, secondhand news guy Anthony Crispino, or the obscenely orange Snooki from Jersey Shore.
    — Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of opinionated
Adjective
  • In 1976, after signing a petition in support of Wilfried Linke, a fellow student expelled from the college for criticizing the dogmatic ideological orientation of Marxist-Leninist instruction, she herself was expelled.
    — Elisa R. Linn, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
  • As young and upcoming English coaches go, Lampard, 48, is far from dogmatic.
    — Liam Tharme, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of dogmatic
Adjective
  • But Democrats face a tall task ahead, economists say, especially because the broader economic challenges that vexed voters stem from global conflicts like the Iran war and stubborn inflation.
    — Mirtha Donastorg, AJC.com, 6 Nov. 2026
  • With corporate profits and consumer spending remaining healthy, layoffs also remain low despite stubborn inflation and recent jitters in the stock market over whether the pace of AI investment is sustainable.
    — Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of stubborn
Adjective
  • On the younger side was Matthew Briggs, who was adamant to see Brooks live despite only knowing one song.
    — Rashad Alexander November 7, Kansas City Star, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Regardless, Republican Sam Matthews, an at-times independent voter who dropped into the Ohio GOP bus tour launch party in Strongsville, remained adamant Democrats continued to be too extreme for most of the electorate.
    — Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of adamant
Adjective
  • By then, even Sartre had lost his enthusiasm for the USSR and had broken with the doctrinaire French communists.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 July 2026
  • But its message for young women may have evolved into something slightly less doctrinaire, and perhaps even less explicitly political.
    — Elaine Godfrey, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026
Definition of doctrinaire

Browse Nearby Words

pons asinorums
pontifical
pontificate
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Cite this Entry

“Pontifical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pontifical. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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