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
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Recent Examples of clerics
The men will join a long procession of clerics in the walk to the main altar.
—
Tony Aiello, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
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
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
But since 1979, the Islamic Republic has partially restored Azerbaijani influence, allowing clerics to address constituents in their native language and reintegrating Azerbaijan into central government in Tehran.
—Shukriya Bradost, The Conversation, 13 Jan. 2026
Some clerics control enormous charitable foundations worth billions of dollars through donations from followers and budgets from the state, while others operate modest local mosques with minimal resources.
—Narges Bajoghli, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
Iran has been a theocracy since 1979, when clerics toppled a secular monarch allied with the West, leading to the formation of the Islamic Republic led by Khamenei’s predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
Demonstrators chanted anti-government slogans calling for the downfall of the ruling clerics and demanding the leadership step aside.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 30 Dec. 2025
While the underlying reasons for the protests are economic, video geolocated by NBC News that circulated online Sunday showed crowds chanting against the country’s ruling clerics.
—Babak Dehghanpisheh, NBC news, 30 Dec. 2025
Tony Aiello, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
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
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
But since 1979, the Islamic Republic has partially restored Azerbaijani influence, allowing clerics to address constituents in their native language and reintegrating Azerbaijan into central government in Tehran.
—Shukriya Bradost, The Conversation, 13 Jan. 2026
Some clerics control enormous charitable foundations worth billions of dollars through donations from followers and budgets from the state, while others operate modest local mosques with minimal resources.
—Narges Bajoghli, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
Iran has been a theocracy since 1979, when clerics toppled a secular monarch allied with the West, leading to the formation of the Islamic Republic led by Khamenei’s predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
Demonstrators chanted anti-government slogans calling for the downfall of the ruling clerics and demanding the leadership step aside.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 30 Dec. 2025
While the underlying reasons for the protests are economic, video geolocated by NBC News that circulated online Sunday showed crowds chanting against the country’s ruling clerics.
—Babak Dehghanpisheh, NBC news, 30 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clerics
Noun
-
What to expect at the installation Mass The longer-than-normal Mass will have a large attendance with many religious figures such as bishops, priests, deacons and other guests.—
Alexa Herrera,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Plunging enrollment has dogged archdiocese schools for decades as tuition costs have climbed, while the number of free teachers (priests and nuns) has plummeted.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Through the program, Houston learned about history, especially African American history, and met preachers and evangelists in the community.—
Kamal Morgan
February 5,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Feb. 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Clerics.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clerics. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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