clerical 1 of 2

adjective

ˈkler-i-kəl How to pronounce clerical (audio)
Definition of clericalnext
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

clerical

2 of 2

noun

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

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 clerical
Adjective
He is currently being detained at the prison ward designated for clerical inmates, according to official Iranian news reports. — Farnaz Fassihi, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026 Permanent conflict will only further elevate Iranians in uniform over Iranians in suits—and perhaps even over Iranians in clerical garb. — Ali Vaez, Foreign Affairs, 29 Sep. 2026 Men in clerical jobs were paid $5,000 a year more than women. — Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026 The civilian staff of roughly 1,400 would grow by 120 slots — a mix of clerical and tech positions and staff for the county’s 911 center. — Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for clerical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clerical
  1. ministerial
  2. priest
  3. pastoral
  4. preacher
  5. cleric
Adjective
  • Reuters said a ministerial meeting of the International Energy Forum is also set to take place, with its plenary session to be held behind closed doors.
    — Azhar Sukri,Terri Cullen, CNBC, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Rodan-Benzaquen said the anger reflected years of educational instability, frequent ministerial changes and reforms that have failed to resolve persistent school problems.
    — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of ministerial
Noun
  • For a second day Leo celebrated Mass with other priests in a special chapel set up near his room on the 10th floor of the hospital, spokesman Matteo Bruni said.
    — Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • According to the attorneys, the priests targeted more than 100 young Black children at Holy Angels parish between 1969 and 2002.
    — CBS Chicago Team, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of priest
Adjective
  • This seasonal pastoral journey, known as transhumance, defines a semi-nomadic way of life that is rapidly disappearing.
    — Jen Murphy, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Oct. 2026
  • These new or renovated getaways offer opportunities to bask in the season’s pastoral and cultural delights in comfort.
    — Stephanie Rosenbloom, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of pastoral
Noun
  • And yet another member, Cody Smith, said his grandfather was preacher of the church for more than 40 years.
    — Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026
  • This brings to mind a song from yesteryear about the preacher and the bear.
    — Alfred H. Moses, Baltimore Sun, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of preacher
Noun
  • Attendance was mandatory, but a cleric with a loudspeaker tried to give the event a festive air.
    — Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The lawmaker, Hamid Rasaei, a cleric who has regularly lashed out at Iran’s negotiating team, is a member of the ultra-hard-line political party Paydari.
    — Farnaz Fassihi, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of cleric

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clerical
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Cite this Entry

“Clerical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clerical. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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