as in intelligentsia
intellectuals considered as a social class
a society lacking a well-established clerisy with a strong commitment to democratic ideals
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Recent Examples of clerisy
Democrats and the public-health clerisy denounced President Trump for rushing Covid vaccines.
—
Allysia Finley, WSJ, 4 Sep. 2022
They are ruled by a grizzled and sclerotic clerisy that funnels resources to its private army, the terrorist Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 24 Sep. 2022
All will be forgiven and forgotten by the clerisy of the moment.
—Barton Swaim, WSJ, 18 July 2021
The public-health clerisy also set boundaries for allowable discussion.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 26 May 2021
Rather, grace is bestowed by a racial-equity clerisy that undercuts its own power by doing so.
—Daniel Lee, WSJ, 12 Mar. 2021
Meanwhile, at school, the clerisy is enlisting children in a campaign to expose heretics and unbelievers.
—Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 18 Oct. 2017
Only those the board licenses are admitted to the clerisy uniquely entitled to publicly discuss engineering.
—George Will, Twin Cities, 13 June 2017
Allysia Finley, WSJ, 4 Sep. 2022
They are ruled by a grizzled and sclerotic clerisy that funnels resources to its private army, the terrorist Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 24 Sep. 2022
All will be forgiven and forgotten by the clerisy of the moment.
—Barton Swaim, WSJ, 18 July 2021
The public-health clerisy also set boundaries for allowable discussion.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 26 May 2021
Rather, grace is bestowed by a racial-equity clerisy that undercuts its own power by doing so.
—Daniel Lee, WSJ, 12 Mar. 2021
Meanwhile, at school, the clerisy is enlisting children in a campaign to expose heretics and unbelievers.
—Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 18 Oct. 2017
Only those the board licenses are admitted to the clerisy uniquely entitled to publicly discuss engineering.
—George Will, Twin Cities, 13 June 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clerisy
Noun
-
The Russian intelligentsia had once admired Ukraine, seeing in it the birthplace of the Muscovite dynasty and Orthodoxy.—
James Verini,
The New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2025
-
The Russian intelligentsia, many of whom had opposed Ukrainian independence when the Soviet Union fell, was receptive to this line of thinking.—
James Verini,
The New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Chávez also relied on protectionism to gain favors from business elites.—
JAVIER CORRALES,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Those who need loans to attend college come from working class families, the elites don't need loans.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clerisy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clerisy. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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