as in synod
formal
a private or secret meeting or group
a conclave of bishops
Related Words
Relevance
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
In 16th-century Italy, Roman merchants reportedly partnered with cardinals’ papal conclave attendants to wager on who would be named the new pope.
—
Kelli María Korducki, thehustle.co, 3 Apr. 2026
In 16th-century Italy, gamblers could wager on the election of civic magistrates and the outcome of papal conclaves.
—Parker Bach, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
The group’s new music was mostly shaped at a recent conclave and relies far more on bandstand invention than previous projects.
—Andrew Gilbert, San Francisco Chronicle, 13 Mar. 2026
The break was long and torturous for fans but clearly restorative for Styles, who lolled in the Italian countryside with Alessandro Michele, bonded with a new niece, and found himself unassumingly among the masses in the Vatican when the conclave elected Pope Leo XIV last June.
—Michelle Ruiz, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for conclave
Kelli María Korducki, thehustle.co, 3 Apr. 2026
In 16th-century Italy, gamblers could wager on the election of civic magistrates and the outcome of papal conclaves.
—Parker Bach, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
The group’s new music was mostly shaped at a recent conclave and relies far more on bandstand invention than previous projects.
—Andrew Gilbert, San Francisco Chronicle, 13 Mar. 2026
The break was long and torturous for fans but clearly restorative for Styles, who lolled in the Italian countryside with Alessandro Michele, bonded with a new niece, and found himself unassumingly among the masses in the Vatican when the conclave elected Pope Leo XIV last June.
—Michelle Ruiz, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for conclave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conclave
Noun
-
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
-
Casey said the synod, the first in the 19-county archdiocese since 1971, will be designed to give all Catholics an opportunity to weigh in on issues that are important to them.—
Dan Horn,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hosted the meeting, which was also attended by Vice President JD Vance and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Since 2022, the Irish have stationed a permanent police liaison officer in the Emirates, and have regularly flown senior police officers and political figures to the Emirates for meetings.—
Ed Caesar,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
That was my impression after the Villars Ocean Forum, a gathering of over 150 leaders from academic, activist, and business backgrounds.—
Natalie Sum Yue Chung,
Fortune,
3 May 2026
-
Warren Buffett has loomed large at the company’s annual gatherings, and this will be a key challenge as new CEO Greg Abel takes center stage this year.—
Yun Li,Alex Harring,Sarah Min,
CNBC,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
But Candelora praised Democratic leaders for listening to his caucus’s proposals in recent weeks.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
-
At the moment, Senate Democrats say the ballroom authorization lacks sufficient support in their caucus to get 60 votes.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The only question is how many of this three challengers will qualify by winning at least 15% of the delegate vote at a nominating convention on May 11.—
Mark Pazniokas,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
-
But Minogue is catching flack from multiple angles for challenging Healey to debates while snubbing numerous requests from fellow Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Shortsleeve, who made the ballot with just over 15% of the vote at the convention.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Conclave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conclave. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
