as in ministerial
of, relating to, or characteristic of the clergy
clerical duties such as providing spiritual counseling and leading Bible study classes
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in priest
a person specially trained and authorized to conduct religious services in a Christian church
some of the state's most prominent clericals have spoken out against the measure
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clerical
Rachel Treisman, NPR, 9 Oct. 2025
Second, the work must be substantive and supervised, not clerical.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025
The Olivier honors included an unprecedented Best Supporting Actor award to the puppeteers who operate the tiger named Richard Parker (named so because of a clerical error in filing after his capture).
—Rick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Sep. 2025
That is why, despite the unyielding stance of Iran’s clerical leaders in public, Tehran prefers diplomacy to resolve a decades-long dispute with the West over its nuclear program.
—Parisa Hafezi, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clerical
Adjective
In July, another inmate at the same jail was mistakenly released due to what officials say was a clerical error stemming from two similar last names.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 9 Oct. 2025
Second, the work must be substantive and supervised, not clerical.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025
The Olivier honors included an unprecedented Best Supporting Actor award to the puppeteers who operate the tiger named Richard Parker (named so because of a clerical error in filing after his capture).
—Rick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Sep. 2025
That is why, despite the unyielding stance of Iran’s clerical leaders in public, Tehran prefers diplomacy to resolve a decades-long dispute with the West over its nuclear program.
—Parisa Hafezi, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clerical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clerical
Adjective
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But over the weekend, the Japan Times reported that the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) planned to seek Komeito’s backing for a joint prime ministerial candidate.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
15 Oct. 2025
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The most notable change to the ministerial picks was incoming Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, head of the Paris police, who replaces Bruno Retailleau, leader of the conservative Republicans Party and who harbours his own presidential ambitions.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
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After the service, the King is expected to attend a reception at the Pontifical Beda College, a seminary which trains priests from across the Commonwealth, while Camilla will meet six Catholic Sisters from the International Union of Superiors General.—
Simon Perry,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
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Delbarton publicly acknowledged in 2018 that at least 30 men had come forward with allegations that, over three decades, 13 past or current priests and monks at the school had victimized them — in addition to a lay faculty member who is now retired.—
Corky Siemaszko,
NBC news,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Could Trump’s pastoral critics ultimately face the same frivolous yet burdensome investigations that now plague his political critics?—
Rev. Nathan Empsall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
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Same-sex desire also appears throughout Virgil’s pastoral poems, the Eclogues.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
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While preachers preached, D’Angelo learned ministry from the choir stand, leading the flock to epiphany one measure at a time.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
18 Oct. 2025
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Outside, the glasses also accurately recognized and translated a Spanish-language sermon a street preacher was reciting through a speaker system across the street.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Analysts point to how the restrictions have held, despite high-level pushback by other prominent clerics, and multiple attempts on the ground to sidestep the rules.—
NPR,
NPR,
14 Oct. 2025
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Abdus Salam Mujib, a local Islamic cleric and caretaker for the school, shared a public apology the day after the incident, though school officials have yet to comment.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clerical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clerical. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
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