as in prioress
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 abbess
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
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
Another early modern abbess, likely one Eadburg of Minster-in-Thanet, left behind a legacy of a different kind: her name and assorted doodles of humanoid figures, inscribed on the pages of an eighth-century Christian manuscript now housed at the University of Oxford.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for abbess
Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 21 Feb. 2023
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
Another early modern abbess, likely one Eadburg of Minster-in-Thanet, left behind a legacy of a different kind: her name and assorted doodles of humanoid figures, inscribed on the pages of an eighth-century Christian manuscript now housed at the University of Oxford.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for abbess
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abbess
Noun
-
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
-
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,
29 Mar. 2024
Noun
-
In the etching, the nun can be seen seated with her legs open while the three clergymen hold up their robes, revealing their erect penises.—
Jack Guy,
CNN Money,
3 June 2025
-
Meanwhile, Sister Marisa, 41, the nun who is seen dancing, has been involved in religious life for 14 years.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
31 May 2025
Noun
-
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
-
Louise, a former anchoress, is her humble, tyrannical maid.—
Hervé Guibert,
Harper's Magazine,
2 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
Gear that is more accessible to novices, social media posts from beautiful locales and a false sense of security carrying a cellphone creates may all be playing a role here.—
Amanda Loudin,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
-
Beginners and families can warm up on the .25-mile Gold Bug Loop, while novice riders looking to improve their freeride skills can cruise down Tommyknocker (5.8 miles).—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
23 May 2025
Noun
-
Leeds was first mentioned in the 8th century by Saint Bede, a monk who recorded much of what historians know about the early history of the British Isles.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
24 May 2025
-
Before Francis, the last pope from a religious order was Gregory XVI, a Benedictine Camaldolese monk who was pope from 1831 to 1846, according to America magazine, a Jesuit publication.—
Erik Ortiz,
NBC news,
9 May 2025
Noun
-
The title mixed action-game elements with tower defense and real-time strategy to create a memorable experience as the swordsman Soh escorts the priestess Yoshiro through a mountain tainted with evil spirits.—
Gieson Cacho,
Mercury News,
28 May 2025
-
However, the fact that the female figure may represent a priestess holding religious objects makes the discovery exceptional, as the researchers write.—
Sonja Anderson,
Smithsonian Magazine,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
They would be led by an older, more experienced person – an abbot.—
Joanne M. Pierce,
The Conversation,
27 May 2025
-
As the village abbot never far from the woods, or from Martine’s little dining room table, Jacques Develay manages the trick of utter simplicity in his motives and line readings.—
Michael Phillips,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abbess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abbess. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share