as in aristocracy
individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class
a gathering of Mafia dons that was in effect a convocation of the nation's priesthood of organized crime
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of priesthood
Ordained to the Catholic priesthood in June, Jimenez was watching as parishioners acted out the Nativity scene during a posada, a Latin American tradition that reenacts Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem in search of shelter.
—
Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Dec. 2025
In a faith where men hold all priesthood authority, reality TV has become an unexpected loophole for female dissent.
—H. Alan Scott, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
Rather than the writer pontificating about how Pfleger needs to retire from active priesthood, how about a better use of his time by advocating the notion that pedophile priests should be retired to jail.
—Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Black men also were banned from ordained priesthood.
—Suzette Hackney, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for priesthood
Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Dec. 2025
In a faith where men hold all priesthood authority, reality TV has become an unexpected loophole for female dissent.
—H. Alan Scott, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
Rather than the writer pontificating about how Pfleger needs to retire from active priesthood, how about a better use of his time by advocating the notion that pedophile priests should be retired to jail.
—Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Black men also were banned from ordained priesthood.
—Suzette Hackney, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for priesthood
Recent Examples of Synonyms for priesthood
Noun
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For example, they might be classified by the number of rulers, thus distinguishing government by one (as in a monarchy or a tyranny) from government by the few (in an aristocracy or oligarchy) and from government by the many (as in a democracy).—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The Marquess of Hartington and a member of the British aristocracy.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The records pulled back a curtain on favor-trading and frank communications in a chummy elite that looked past Epstein's 2008 guilty plea to solicitating prostitution from an underage girl in Florida.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
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The records pulled back a curtain on favor-trading and frank communications in a chummy elite that looked past Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea to solicitating prostitution from an underage girl in Florida.—
Jennifer Peltz,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Brzustewicz led all Knights in scoring with 54 points in 59 games this season on the strength of three-year bests in goals (19) and assists (35).—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Check out three of our most popular collections from our Better Homes & Gardens line at Walmart (Brookbury, Ezra, and Marlow) to see which pieces and styles might match your aesthetic best.—
Carly Totten,
Better Homes & Gardens,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Leefbaar Rotterdam, Reichman’s political party, has sought to distance itself from the council member-elect.—
Brooke Migdon,
PEOPLE,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Congratulations to the new members-elect.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
One begins to think that the condition is hereditary—that, instead of a Habsburg jaw, the wealthy white denizens of New Orleans high society are saddled with emotional problems.—
Brandy Jensen,
New Yorker,
8 Apr. 2026
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The traditional theatrical chains are vital to our cohesion as a society, and are duly cautious [about AI].—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Priesthood.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/priesthood. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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