ayatollah
noun
aya·tol·lah
ˌī-ə-ˈtō-lə 
-ˈtä-
-ˈtä-
-ˈtə-,
ˈī-ə-ˌtō-,
-ˌtä-,
-ˌtə-
: a religious leader among Shiite Muslims
—used as a title of respect especially for one who is not an imam
Examples of ayatollah in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Indeed, the ayatollahs have maimed and killed thousands of Americans.
—
Beatrice Peterson, ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
His death also means that Mojtaba Khamenei, who is the new supreme leader and son of the late ayatollah, loses one of the few men who knew how his father actually ran power.
—Tucker Reals, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
The opposite of the ayatollah is not necessarily Thomas Jefferson.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 16 Mar. 2026
Mojtaba Khamenei was injured in the attack on his father's compound, which killed the ayatollah and other immediate members of the family.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ayatollah
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Beatrice Peterson, ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
His death also means that Mojtaba Khamenei, who is the new supreme leader and son of the late ayatollah, loses one of the few men who knew how his father actually ran power.
—Tucker Reals, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
The opposite of the ayatollah is not necessarily Thomas Jefferson.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 16 Mar. 2026
Mojtaba Khamenei was injured in the attack on his father's compound, which killed the ayatollah and other immediate members of the family.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ayatollah
Cite this Entry
“Ayatollah.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ayatollah. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
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