as in priests
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clericals
Noun
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Pastors, priests, rabbis, and imams are in the streets, courthouses, and places of worship defending immigrant communities.—
David Ostendorf,
Time,
29 Jan. 2026 -
For nearly a millennia and half, even in the centuries when physicians were beginning to supplant priests in treating the ill, epileptic convulsions (unexpected, frightening, enigmatic) remained the territory of the priest.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Marcos briefly suspended habeas corpus and blamed his sclerotic economy on the agitations of leftist rebels, students, journalists, and preachers.—
Sean Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
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King’s ability to take ideas from White preachers’ bland sermons and convert them to stirring oratory was part of his genius, Miller says.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
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She was nominated by a 17-member commission composed of clerics and lay people and her appointment was confirmed by King Charles III, who is the supreme governor of the church.—
Danica Kirka,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
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Otherwise disparate segments of Iranian society, such as the conservative Bazaari merchants hitherto largely loyal to the clerics and more liberal and secular Iranian youth, shared this overarching goal.—
Paul Iddon,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Clericals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clericals. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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