conclave

noun

Definition of conclavenext
as in synod
formal a private or secret meeting or group a conclave of bishops

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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 conclave Trump also implied that Leo − the first pope born in the United States − was chosen by the conclave last year, partly in response to his own leadership. — Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 4 May 2026 The pope hasn’t visited the US since his selection at the papal conclave in May 2025 and doesn’t have plans to visit this year, according to the Vatican. — Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2026 And who could ever forget the kids from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy, who held a mini conclave of their own, then were invited to Rome for an informal meet and greet with the holy father. — CBS News, 8 May 2026 Not city officials or the Georgia Department of Transportation, but a mixture of FIFA, broadcasters and maybe the papal conclave. — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 21 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for conclave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conclave
  1. synod
  2. meeting
  3. gathering
  4. caucus
  5. convention
Noun
  • The testimony of the gay men, contained in annexes published on the Vatican's synod website, featured moving accounts of how one, from Portugal, came to terms with his homosexuality and married his husband.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 May 2026
  • Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost, spent two weeks sitting with Fuanya at the same table during Pope Francis’ 2024 big meeting, or synod, on the family.
    — Nicole Winfield, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026
Definition of synod
Noun
  • An explosion went off near the Four Seasons Hotel in Damascus on Tuesday, where French President Emmanuel Macron had spent the night ahead of a meeting with his Syrian counterpart, according to French and Syrian media.
    — Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
  • The build-up to this meeting has been tense, with defense spending remaining a contentious topic.
    — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 7 July 2026
Definition of meeting
Noun
  • The bar also hosts weekly vinyl collector gatherings around a long communal table and a DJ booth turntable on which guests are welcome to pop on their own selection from the 6,000-strong record collection.
    — Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
  • Then the Senate Armed Services chair reversed himself, calling Wilson on Thursday to say that Charleston could not host the gathering after all.
    — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of gathering
Noun
  • They've been called the YOLO caucus, right?
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 June 2026
  • Kiley remains listed as a member of the Republican Governance Group, a caucus of moderate House Republicans whose affiliated PAC contributed $7,000 to his campaign.
    — Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 26 June 2026
Definition of caucus
Noun
  • Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Good Night and Good Luck, The Ides of March, and Suburbicon are examples of films that are refined, ambitious, and outside the rules and conventions of Hollywood cinema.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 6 July 2026
  • Beltran regularly appears at Star Trek conventions and used to get in fights on Twitter.
    — Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 4 July 2026
Definition of convention

Browse Nearby Words

concision
conclave
conclaves
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Cite this Entry

“Conclave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conclave. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on conclave

Nglish: Translation of conclave for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about conclave

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