as in ecclesiastical
of or relating to a church
refused to discuss churchly matters except on Sundays
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Recent Examples of churchly
That theme, explored with light wit and deep humanity, makes this unabashedly churchly novel strikingly relevant to our conflicted political era.
—
Washington Post, 3 May 2022
The singer and rapper’s weary tales arrive with churchly trills, nu-metal groans, quiet-storm beats, and zero concern for coolness.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 14 Dec. 2021
Besides, the current Francis seems revolutionary enough for an era of ecological crisis, humanitarian disaster, and churchly scandal, especially since Wenders has the pope on camera directly sharing his thoughts with the audience.
—Ty Burr, BostonGlobe.com, 16 May 2018
Black leather Versace motorcycle jackets sport jeweled crucifixes inspired by Byzantine mosaics, blending edgy coolness with churchly devotion.
—Rhonda Garelick, The Cut, 10 May 2018
Washington Post, 3 May 2022
The singer and rapper’s weary tales arrive with churchly trills, nu-metal groans, quiet-storm beats, and zero concern for coolness.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 14 Dec. 2021
Besides, the current Francis seems revolutionary enough for an era of ecological crisis, humanitarian disaster, and churchly scandal, especially since Wenders has the pope on camera directly sharing his thoughts with the audience.
—Ty Burr, BostonGlobe.com, 16 May 2018
Black leather Versace motorcycle jackets sport jeweled crucifixes inspired by Byzantine mosaics, blending edgy coolness with churchly devotion.
—Rhonda Garelick, The Cut, 10 May 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for churchly
Adjective
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The Rooms Laid out over three floors—each with soaring, ecclesiastical cross-vault ceilings—rooms are spacious and chic, each with a varying but superb vistas.—
Nicole Trilivas,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Sep. 2025
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Because the actual date of the spring equinox can differ by a day or two, the Catholic Church created a fixed date of March 21 to define it, known as the ecclesiastical equinox.—
Kaycee Sloan,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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Forbidden passion fueled the plot of The Thorn Birds in which the late Richard Chamberlain, played the priest Ralph de Bricassart, a heartthrob in ecclesiastic wear.—
Laird Borrelli-Persson,
Vogue,
2 Apr. 2025
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America has no aristocracy or ecclesiastic master class.—
Brian T. Allen,
National Review,
12 Feb. 2022
Adjective
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How the courts and legislatures balance the rights of the majority and minority in these disputes over the place of the Ten Commandments in public life may go a long way toward shaping the future of religious freedom in American public education.—
Lydia Artz,
The Conversation,
5 Sep. 2025
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Families in Florida can also seek temporary or permanent exemptions for medical or religious reasons.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Churchly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/churchly. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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