as in prioress
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Recent Examples of abbess
When the abbess died in 866, she was buried in the abbey church.
—
Moira Ritter, Miami Herald, 22 Feb. 2024
Groff imagined the poet Marie de France as a teenager forced to venture into the dark woods to serve as the abbess.
—Ron Charles, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2023
It’s been nearly 14 centuries since the monastery founded by St. Hild of Whitby, a prominent abbess in 7th century Anglo-Saxon England, hosted the Northumbrian kingdom’s assembly to discuss the date on which its Christian church would celebrate Easter.
—Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 28 Apr. 2023
One of them was the abbess of a female religious community in Kent from around 733 to 761 CE, which is consistent with the dating of MS Selden Supra 30.
—Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 21 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for abbess
Moira Ritter, Miami Herald, 22 Feb. 2024
Groff imagined the poet Marie de France as a teenager forced to venture into the dark woods to serve as the abbess.
—Ron Charles, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2023
It’s been nearly 14 centuries since the monastery founded by St. Hild of Whitby, a prominent abbess in 7th century Anglo-Saxon England, hosted the Northumbrian kingdom’s assembly to discuss the date on which its Christian church would celebrate Easter.
—Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 28 Apr. 2023
One of them was the abbess of a female religious community in Kent from around 733 to 761 CE, which is consistent with the dating of MS Selden Supra 30.
—Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 21 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for abbess
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abbess
Noun
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Matrix by Lauren Groff Currents of violence and devotion coalesce around Marie de France, a 17-year-old sent to be the new prioress of a 12th-century English abbey.—
Mia Barzilay Freund,
Vogue,
7 July 2025
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In response, the diocese said in a statement that the Holy See has acted toward healing the Arlington Carmel and the nuns in the community and not simply the former prioress and her former councilors.—
Elizabeth Campbell,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Apr. 2024
Noun
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Police are renewing efforts to solve a 20-year-old hit-and-run that killed a nun in Northeast Philadelphia.—
Tom Dougherty,
CBS News,
14 Jan. 2026
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However, the young woman begins to feel a calling from God and decides to embrace the life of a cloistered nun.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In the medieval church, women’s roles were limited – usually some form of enclosure and celibacy, such as becoming an anchoress walled up alone for life, or a nun in a classic convent.—
Joelle Rollo-Koster,
The Conversation,
25 Feb. 2025
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Louise, a former anchoress, is her humble, tyrannical maid.—
Hervé Guibert,
Harper's Magazine,
2 Nov. 2024
Noun
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From the bleachers of the Abe Stark Arena, our college friends cheered wildly as Phil, who was a novice, performed a few simple spins.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
4 Feb. 2026
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For seasoned cooks and kitchen novices, cookbook author and nutritionist Robin Miller takes it back to basics with great, family-friendly recipes worth making over and over again.—
Robin Miller,
AZCentral.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Written in Latin, McQuhin recorded in his book a challenge between John Sclater, a monk in Paisley Abbey, and Gavin Hamilton, a representative of the Abbot.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
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Join a pilgrimage to watch the first rainfall on Mars; trap yourself with a death monk in a locked-room murder mystery—or trap yourself with the Shelleys the summer that Mary got a lightning bolt of literary inspiration.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Nigerian-British actress Mosaku is recognized in the supporting actress category for her role as powerful Hoodoo priestess Annie in Ryan Coogler’s vampire horror, which scored the most Oscar nominations ever.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Jan. 2026
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In it, Swift evokes the titular Trojan priestess, who was tragically given the gift of prophecy and yet no one believes her.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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As a young religious, Bishop-elect Lombardo did missionary work in Bolivia and Honduras.—
Laura Rodríguez Presa,
chicagotribune.com,
11 Sep. 2020
Noun
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The most recent abbot, Father Charles Albanese, will be splitting time between Our Lady of Guadalupe Abbey in Oregon and Santa Rita Abbey in Arizona.—
John Mossman,
Denver Post,
18 Jan. 2026
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The abbot later said the temple would cover her medical expenses, according to Pairat.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
25 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abbess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abbess. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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