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 lawsuit echoes criticism that most commissioners are conservative Christian clerics and commentators; one is an Orthodox Jewish rabbi.
—
Peter Smith, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
The group’s spiritual leader, Ayatollah Mohammad-Taqi Mesbah-Yazdi, who died in 2021, was one of the country’s most radical clerics.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
The lawsuit echoes criticism that most commissioners are conservative Christian clerics and commentators; one is an Orthodox Jewish rabbi.
—ABC News, 9 May 2026
The text was first reviewed by three clerics and then copied by scribes onto marble for stonemasons to chisel.
—Ethan Teekah, Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 May 2026
Perhaps the most sensitive matter is Iran, a nation of nasty clerics and old-time belligerents that declared war on America and Israel 47 years ago.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026
Analysts and clerics are keen to stress the overall importance of this visit to the continent.
—Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 12 Apr. 2026
Leo spoke during a gathering of top bishops of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq, an Eastern Rite Catholic church whose clerics are in Rome to elect a new patriarch.
—Brian Dakss, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026
Leo spoke during a gathering of top bishops of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq, an Eastern Rite Catholic church whose clerics are in Rome to elect a new patriarch.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 10 Apr. 2026
Peter Smith, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
The group’s spiritual leader, Ayatollah Mohammad-Taqi Mesbah-Yazdi, who died in 2021, was one of the country’s most radical clerics.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
The lawsuit echoes criticism that most commissioners are conservative Christian clerics and commentators; one is an Orthodox Jewish rabbi.
—ABC News, 9 May 2026
The text was first reviewed by three clerics and then copied by scribes onto marble for stonemasons to chisel.
—Ethan Teekah, Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 May 2026
Perhaps the most sensitive matter is Iran, a nation of nasty clerics and old-time belligerents that declared war on America and Israel 47 years ago.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026
Analysts and clerics are keen to stress the overall importance of this visit to the continent.
—Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 12 Apr. 2026
Leo spoke during a gathering of top bishops of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq, an Eastern Rite Catholic church whose clerics are in Rome to elect a new patriarch.
—Brian Dakss, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026
Leo spoke during a gathering of top bishops of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq, an Eastern Rite Catholic church whose clerics are in Rome to elect a new patriarch.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 10 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clerics
Noun
-
The group, formed in 1970 to oppose Vatican II modernizations, has quietly become a parallel church operating globally with 733 priests, 264 seminarians and 50 nationalities despite decades of schism.—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
-
Leo met Thursday with German Cardinal Reinhard Marx, who — despite Fernández's letter — recently recommended that priests in his archdiocese use the German guidelines as a basis for their pastoral care.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
Badenoch has called for stronger enforcement, including deporting foreign preachers who are spreading hate in mosques and other institutions.—
Ariella Noveck,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2026
-
Dollison was a regular contributor to the Church of Christ publication The Living Message, which credited him as being a major inspiration for many influential Arkansas Church of Christ preachers.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clerics.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clerics. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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