APOSTOLIC Synonyms: 38 Similar and Opposite Words

apostolic

adjective

Definition of apostolic

as in episcopal

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 apostolic Like his apostolic namesake, Thomas believes unquestioningly in the evidence of his senses. — Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026 Pope Leo at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa on Monday, the second day of his apostolic visit to Lebanon. — Alexander Smith, NBC news, 3 Dec. 2025 All those present in the audience in the Vatican’s apostolic palace met Leo personally at the end, with Lee presenting the first American pope with a New York Knicks jersey. — Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025 Until then, Vigneron will serve as apostolic administrator for the Detroit archdiocese. — Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 11 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for apostolic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for apostolic

Adjective

After returning to the United States, Novakovic attended an Episcopal boarding school in San Antonio, Texas.

— byRachel Cole, Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 May 2026
On New Year’s Eve in 1996, Christou followed Deadbeat with a club at a former Episcopal church that was built in 1865.

— Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 26 Feb. 2026

Definition of episcopal

Adjective

Edward Berger, whose papal selection movie Conclave was set within the walls of Vatican City, opened the conference and market with a fascinating look into his filmmaking process and views on how the movie business has evolved.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2026
What began as an academic dispute became a public controversy, and questions about indulgences soon expanded into larger debates about salvation, Scripture, and papal authority.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of papal

Adjective

Like many of those who believe, with evangelical fervor, in the gospel of American opportunity, Capra sprang from elsewhere.

— Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Over the past several decades, however, a growing percentage of people in Latin America, long a Catholic stronghold, have been embracing evangelical churches.

— Johanna Bard Richlin, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of evangelical

Adjective

The district’s Digital Teaching and Learning team is reviewing its online catalogs to identify and correct potential clerical errors, Jonas said.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 20 Oct. 2026
Sabti, who was born in Tehran, said the clerical regime in the capital Tehran does not exercise solid control over the provinces, which resembles parts of South America where some governments lost sovereignty to militias.

— Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of clerical

Adjective

This week in Riyadh, another ministerial gathering took place.

— Wael Mahdi, semafor.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Reuters said a ministerial meeting of the International Energy Forum is also set to take place, with its plenary session to be held behind closed doors.

— Azhar Sukri,Terri Cullen, CNBC, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of ministerial

Adjective

His retreat to pastoral family life was a necessary step in reconnecting with his own musical talents.

— Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 21 Oct. 2026
In today’s commercial age of plenty, the most important task of the dust jacket is to match a book to your mood, from the pastoral watercolor tones of the travel narrative or cosy domestic romance, to the dark hues of the murder mystery.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of pastoral

Adjective

In another decree published Monday, Leo canceled Francis’ plans to move some of the Vatican’s secret archives and library holdings out of the city state and onto the grounds of a pontifical university across town.

— Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Leo opened his visit to Pompeii by meeting with sick and disabled people who are cared for by a charity center affiliated with the sanctuary, which Leo’s namesake, Pope Leo XIII, declared a pontifical basilica in 1901.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 May 2026

Definition of pontifical

Browse Nearby Words

apostles

apostolic

apothecaries

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Apostolic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apostolic. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of apostolic

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on apostolic

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

milieu

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes