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
Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2025
Every cardinal and anyone else involved in the sealed conclave—there are a small number of cooks, medical staff, and clerical support locked in with the electors—takes a vow of secrecy never to talk about what happened without a pope’s permission.
— Made By History, Time, 22 Apr. 2025
The law only allows schools to recognize changes made to birth certificates that were made to correct a clerical error.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 2 May 2025
Van Arsdale said the inconsistencies in John Doe’s story were due to a clerical error in filing.
—Elizabeth Wagmeister, CNN Money, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for clerical
Adjective
Francis and Pope Benedict XVI took steps to end decades of abuse and cover-ups, changing church laws to punish abusers and their clerical superiors who hid their wrongdoing.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2025
Every cardinal and anyone else involved in the sealed conclave—there are a small number of cooks, medical staff, and clerical support locked in with the electors—takes a vow of secrecy never to talk about what happened without a pope’s permission.
— Made By History, Time, 22 Apr. 2025
The law only allows schools to recognize changes made to birth certificates that were made to correct a clerical error.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 2 May 2025
Van Arsdale said the inconsistencies in John Doe’s story were due to a clerical error in filing.
—Elizabeth Wagmeister, CNN Money, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for clerical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clerical
Adjective
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The approval process for the project is ministerial, meaning the applicant does not need to seek public input and that review by city staff does not need to include public hearings.—
Robert Vardon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2025
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Decades in the making Nearly two decades have passed since the European Space Agency formally committed to funding the ExoMars mission at a ministerial meeting in December 2005.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
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When the Church sanctions the exorcism of Emma Schmidt, two priests divided by doubt must confront a force beyond comprehension...and their own faith.—
Griff Griffin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 May 2025
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The ovation when the priest said the prayer and said ‘God bless our Pacers’ was great.—
Michael Marot,
Chicago Tribune,
26 May 2025
Adjective
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The order, based on the teachings of St. Augustine, brings together the disciplines of contemplation and pastoral ministry.—
Harry Kraemer,
Forbes.com,
12 May 2025
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Its core principles are being integrated into pastoral initiatives and interreligious dialogue at the national and international levels.—
Craig Considine,
The Conversation,
5 May 2025
Noun
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Buskirk — his dad and great grandfather were preachers — shortly after accepting the football job felt the calling to explore ministry work.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
31 May 2025
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My dad was a Methodist preacher from a long line of them.—
John Archibald,
Southern Living,
25 May 2025
Noun
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If tensions grow between Iran, Israel, and the United States, Tehran could lash out at Azerbaijan militarily or by using its influence with Shiite clerics to foment internal unrest—particularly if Baku appears to be supporting Israel.—
Zaur Shiriyev,
Foreign Affairs,
26 May 2025
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The latest crisis erupted late last month, when a Druze cleric was alleged to have insulted the Prophet Muhammad.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clerical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clerical. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
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