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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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
G. Jeffrey MacDonald, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Apr. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clergyperson
Noun
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The investigation involves local police, priests, and a house of God.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Sep. 2025
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The most high profile of which is The Haunting of Hill House, but Midnight Mass, the story of a priest who arrives at a small island community performing miracles, is easily one of his best.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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And throughout a 100-minute show, Cain recounted the story of a preacher’s daughter through wailing vocals, haunting drones, and meditative, languorous chants.—
Audrey Gibbs,
Nashville Tennessean,
3 Sep. 2025
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From there, the plot pretzels itself into typical noir convolution, giving us an excuse to meet all sorts of characters, not least a shady local preacher played by Chris Evans, who uses his almost embarrassingly all-American good looks to convey treacle and snake oil.—
Daniel Bromfield,
Mercury News,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The three killers might have gotten away with their crime if not for Casey, who eight months after the murder confessed to a clergyman and then led police to Pahler's mummified body.—
Chris Spargo,
People.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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The clergyman was from the Maryknoll mission, a Roman Catholic order that had long worked with the Japanese American community and was now assisting with their removal from the West Coast.—
Tracy Slater
July 10,
Literary Hub,
10 July 2025
Noun
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Ian Wilkinson, a pastor at a local church and the sole surviving guest of the lunch, told last month's hearing that the death of his wife had left him bereft.—
Alasdair Pal,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
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She was also found guilty of attempting to murder Heather's husband, pastor Ian Wilkinson, 68, who remained hospitalized for weeks, 9 News reported at the time.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clergyperson.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clergyperson. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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