as in priest
a person specially trained and authorized to conduct religious services in a Christian church
clerics were sharply divided on the issue of whether the war was morally justified
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Recent Examples of cleric
The Catholic Church is among the most prominent global opponents against euthanasia, and high-ranking clerics across the nation launched a campaign to sway parliamentarians against the bill.
—
Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 31 May 2025
The 86-year-old cleric has named three candidates for his replacement, according to multiple media reports, but the names have not been made public.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025
Iran’s 'Supreme Leader' likely will dictate its response Much, if not all, of Iran’s response will be dictated not by its civilian government but by Khamenei, the Iranian cleric who has served as the second supreme leader of Iran since 1989.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 23 June 2025
However, abandoning the country would be a shocking betrayal that the devout cleric will unlikely make.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cleric
Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 31 May 2025
The 86-year-old cleric has named three candidates for his replacement, according to multiple media reports, but the names have not been made public.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025
Iran’s 'Supreme Leader' likely will dictate its response Much, if not all, of Iran’s response will be dictated not by its civilian government but by Khamenei, the Iranian cleric who has served as the second supreme leader of Iran since 1989.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 23 June 2025
However, abandoning the country would be a shocking betrayal that the devout cleric will unlikely make.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cleric
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleric
Noun
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And, over time, fewer new European priests arrived in Kongo, making translation less necessary.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
12 July 2025
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One particular enemy of Gauguin’s was Bishop Martin, a Catholic priest on Hiva Oa who did his best to stomp out local custom, forbidding tattooing, Polynesian dancing, and the customary practice of polyandry.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
11 July 2025
Noun
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Balmer, who visited him in Baton Rouge while researching a 1998 magazine piece about the disgraced preacher, said Swaggart struggled mightily after his fall from grace.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
2 July 2025
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The Pentecostal preacher was caught on camera with a prostitute in New Orleans in 1988, which led to his defrocking by the Assembly of God denomination.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cleric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleric. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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