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churchly

adjective church·ly \ ˈchərch-lē \

Definition of churchly

1 : of or relating to a church
  • churchly authority
2 : suitable to or suggestive of a church
  • a churchly setting
3 : adhering to a church
  • a churchly community
4 : churchy 1
—

churchliness

noun

Examples of churchly in a Sentence

  1. refused to discuss churchly matters except on Sundays

Recent Examples of churchly from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'churchly.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of churchly

before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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churchly Synonyms

Synonyms

ecclesial, ecclesiastic, ecclesiastical;

Antonyms

nonchurch, nonecclesiastical;

Near Antonyms

lay, profane, secular, temporal;

nonclerical;

nondenominational, nonsectarian;

Related Words

blessed (also blest), consecrated, divine, hallowed, holy, religious, sacramental, sacred, sacrosanct, sanctified;

apostolic, canonical, clerical, episcopal, evangelical (also evangelic), ministerial, papal, pastoral, patriarchal, pontifical, priestly, rabbinic (or rabbinical), sacerdotal;

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  1. Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for churchly

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