1
as in apostolic
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2
as in authoritative
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of canonical
But are these even real, canonical fates for these characters, or just what Mike wants for them?
—
Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 1 Jan. 2026
For once, a canonical movie is becoming a play, not a musical.
—Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 22 Dec. 2025
The canonical Gospels, the accounts of Jesus’ life included in the Bible’s New Testament, make no mention of those animals welcoming the newborn.
—Mary Dzon, The Conversation, 12 Dec. 2025
The Nine Circles of Hell come from Dante’s Inferno, a canonical poetic text.
—Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for canonical
Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 1 Jan. 2026
For once, a canonical movie is becoming a play, not a musical.
—Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 22 Dec. 2025
The canonical Gospels, the accounts of Jesus’ life included in the Bible’s New Testament, make no mention of those animals welcoming the newborn.
—Mary Dzon, The Conversation, 12 Dec. 2025
The Nine Circles of Hell come from Dante’s Inferno, a canonical poetic text.
—Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for canonical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for canonical
Adjective
-
The ceremony will be presided over by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States.—
Ashley Carnahan,
FOXNews.com,
18 Dec. 2025
-
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
Adjective
-
There’s a casual, authoritative swing to their performance that belies the stylistic range on the record; the songs touch upon different traditions, yet all sound of a piece.—
Stephen Thomas Erlewine,
Pitchfork,
26 Jan. 2026
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Washington delivers the dialogue with a thrilling range from purrs to roars, all imbued with an authoritative swagger.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
In 2025, the BAFTA Best Film award went to the Ralph Fiennes papal thriller Conclave.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Even the office was sort of papal.—
Merle Ginsberg,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The move required acquiring a licensed payments company, absorbing hundreds of employees, and operating under financial regulations across multiple jurisdictions.—
Geri Stengel,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Use it or lose it Today, an army of 24,000 licensed cabbies (only 3% of whom are women) ply the streets of London in the traditional black cabs.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
This year there was the addition of a new episcopal area for Burundi and Rwanda and the appointment of nine new bishops, a reversal of the trend among U.S. bishops.—
Liam Adams,
Nashville Tennessean,
26 Oct. 2025
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Haller Suites & Restaurant offers a dining experience with panoramic views over the episcopal town.—
Paul Caputo,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2025
Adjective
-
Look for someone with certified professional credentials.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Alison is a certified personal trainer and group exercise instructor at Baptist East Milestone Wellness Center.—
Lennie Omalza,
Louisville Courier Journal,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
According to Safavi, Ebrahimi was shot with live ammunition by Iran’s security forces during protests against the clerical regime.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Rasmussen was wearing her clerical robes and was thrown to the ground by a sheriff in plainclothes.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The sheer human devastation witnessed by the half-dozen people pretending to eat their lunch in here could nullify any legitimate emotional experience within twenty city blocks.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
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Rubio said Maduro was not a legitimate head of state, noting that more than 50 countries — including the United States, the European Union and most of Latin America — rejected the results of Venezuela’s disputed 2024 presidential election.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Canonical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canonical. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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