as in ministerial
of, relating to, or characteristic of the clergy
clerical duties such as providing spiritual counseling and leading Bible study classes
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clerical
Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 1 Mar. 2026
Other names Another clerical successor to Khamenei being discussed is Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
—Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 1 Mar. 2026
Despite the heavy bombing campaign, there will be no invasion of Iran by American or Israeli troops to overthrow the clerical regime.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 1 Mar. 2026
Khamenei rallied the clerical establishment, and unelected bodies run by mullahs shut down major reforms and barred reform candidates from elections.
—Dallas Morning News, 28 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clerical
Adjective
If the future of the country depends on a new clerical leader, however, the composition of the three-man interim leadership committee doesn’t inspire much hope.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 1 Mar. 2026
Other names Another clerical successor to Khamenei being discussed is Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
—Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 1 Mar. 2026
Despite the heavy bombing campaign, there will be no invasion of Iran by American or Israeli troops to overthrow the clerical regime.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 1 Mar. 2026
Khamenei rallied the clerical establishment, and unelected bodies run by mullahs shut down major reforms and barred reform candidates from elections.
—Dallas Morning News, 28 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clerical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clerical
Adjective
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Thaksin could be eligible for parole in May, his nephew is the party’s prime ministerial candidate.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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The referendum refers political reforms that include prime ministerial term limits, stronger checks on executive power and other safeguards preventing parliamentary power consolidation.—
Julhas Alam,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In January, 31 priests submitted a dubia — or formal request for clarification — to the Vatican.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Feb. 2026
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Marcos’s commanders, confronted with throngs of nuns, priests and ordinary civilians pleading, weeping and kneeling in prayer, refused orders to open fire and clear the streets, and Marcos subsequently fled to exile in Hawaii.—
Keith B. Richburg,
Washington Post,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Both works carried cinematic, pastoral qualities.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
27 Feb. 2026
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In a pastoral letter and videos played at Masses across western North Carolina, Martin laid out the need for parishioners to go well beyond believing to engaging in proactive evangelism.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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His large band, squeezed onto a stage scarcely longer than two kayaks laid end to end, is composed almost entirely of Haitian preachers’ kids raised in the country’s gospel tradition.—
Emma Madden,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
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This Oscar-winning documentary follows the fascinating life of Marjoe Gortner, a former child preacher who returned to the practice as a young adult solely for financial purposes.—
Eric Farwell,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Khamenei was born July 17, 1939, in the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad, where his father was a Shiite cleric of humble means.—
DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS,
Arkansas Online,
2 Mar. 2026
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The group is required to move quickly following a leader’s death and meets behind closed doors to deliberate among qualified senior clerics before announcing a decision.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clerical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clerical. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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