as in priests
a person specially trained and authorized to conduct religious services in a Christian church
clerics were sharply divided on the issue of whether the war was morally justified
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 clerics
That exquisitely rare skill — the ability to arrange a handful of ordinary notes in a way that makes time stop and pulses quicken — unites long-anonymous troubadours, symphonists, Broadway entertainers, earnest singer-songwriters, griots, and ancient clerics.
—
Justin Davidson, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2025
The economy is the top challenge for Iran’s ruling clerics, who fear a revival of protests that have erupted since 2017 by lower and middle-income communities angry at growing poverty because of sanctions, mismanagement and state corruption.
—Parisa Hafezi, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
Soliman is known as an elegant dresser, but his apartment was in bachelor-pad disarray, a reflection of his long hours at the hospital and the abruptness of his detention, said his friends, also clerics.
—Hannah Allam, ProPublica, 10 Sep. 2025
While some conservative clerics still frown upon women taking part in beauty pageants, many others in the Muslim community have been supportive of Hashwi.
—Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 26 Aug. 2025
The novelty of clerics at Davos signals a deeper realignment.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2025
The real authority lies in the hands of Islamist clerics and militia leaders.
—Hadeel Oueis, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Aug. 2025
The streets belonged as much to students, feminists, merchants, liberals, and industrial workers as to clerics.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
The daily struggle of ordinary Iranians to make ends meet is a persistent challenge for the ruling clerics, who fear a revival of demonstrations that have erupted periodically by lower- and middle-income communities angry at enduring hardship.
—Elwely Elwelly, Reuters, 27 Aug. 2024
Justin Davidson, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2025
The economy is the top challenge for Iran’s ruling clerics, who fear a revival of protests that have erupted since 2017 by lower and middle-income communities angry at growing poverty because of sanctions, mismanagement and state corruption.
—Parisa Hafezi, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
Soliman is known as an elegant dresser, but his apartment was in bachelor-pad disarray, a reflection of his long hours at the hospital and the abruptness of his detention, said his friends, also clerics.
—Hannah Allam, ProPublica, 10 Sep. 2025
While some conservative clerics still frown upon women taking part in beauty pageants, many others in the Muslim community have been supportive of Hashwi.
—Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 26 Aug. 2025
The novelty of clerics at Davos signals a deeper realignment.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2025
The real authority lies in the hands of Islamist clerics and militia leaders.
—Hadeel Oueis, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Aug. 2025
The streets belonged as much to students, feminists, merchants, liberals, and industrial workers as to clerics.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
The daily struggle of ordinary Iranians to make ends meet is a persistent challenge for the ruling clerics, who fear a revival of demonstrations that have erupted periodically by lower- and middle-income communities angry at enduring hardship.
—Elwely Elwelly, Reuters, 27 Aug. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clerics
Noun
-
Many African Anglican churches refuse to ordain female priests.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
3 Oct. 2025
-
During his presidency, the church modified its policy to prohibit transgender people from being baptized, working with children or serving as priests or teachers, per the AP.—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Miner preachers and independent churches were central to the organization of miners in eastern Kentucky in the 1930s, too, during another period of violence between mine operators and miners over conditions, wages and unionization.—
The Conversation,
The Conversation,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Martinez hosted a sermon series with seven different preachers to talk to the congregation about what generosity meant to them, and the fundraiser was included in church announcements and weekly newsletter updates.—
Nollyanne Delacruz,
Mercury News,
21 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clerics.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clerics. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share