CLERGYPERSON Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

clergyperson

noun

ˈklər-jē-ˌpər-sᵊn

Definition of clergyperson

as in priest

a person specially trained and authorized to conduct religious services in a Christian church a clergyperson of your choice would be the best one to advise on this spiritual matter

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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 clergyperson What makes the family tradition sustainable in central Massachusetts, where the Vallelis now live, is a pastor-sharing arrangement between two congregations that couldn’t afford a full-time clergyperson on their own. — G. Jeffrey MacDonald, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Apr. 2020

Recent Examples of Synonyms for clergyperson

Noun

In the 1920s the Soviet biochemist Vladimir and the French Jesuit priest Pierre Teilhard de Chardin developed the idea of the noosphere as being the sphere of human reason or thought encapsulating the Earth.

— Keith Cooper, Space.com, 27 July 2026
Players from that 1951 side have strongly refuted the story, while the priest at its centre has never been identified.

— Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 27 July 2026

Definition of priest

Noun

Videos posted on social media show street preachers speaking with multiple police officers outside the event.

— Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 July 2026
During a rare weekend at home, Godwin wrote the song — an allusion to his grandfather, Charles Godwin, a Methodist preacher — after putting the kids to bed one night.

— Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 23 July 2026

Definition of preacher

Noun

Movie law conveniently parlays their lengthy sentence into a week’s work at the cheery, picturesque Burning Bush Camp, where supervising pastor Tom (Chris Klein) sportingly overlooks their dubious childcare creds and eccentric prayer style.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 25 July 2026
Jeremy Klein, a 51-year-old pastor in Ohio who lost his sense of smell from COVID in May 2025, participated in one of Zhao’s trials.

— Hannah Docter-Loeb, Scientific American, 24 July 2026

Definition of pastor

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clergymen

clergyperson

clergypersons

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“Clergyperson.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clergyperson. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of clergyperson

noun

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