as in synod
formal
a private or secret meeting or group
a conclave of bishops
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Recent Examples of conclave
His death, at 88, set the stage for the conclave that elected Leo a few weeks later.
—
ABC News, 21 Apr. 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
Peter Martin paints the scene from a recent military conclave in Rome.
—Jonathan Tamari, Bloomberg, 7 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for conclave
ABC News, 21 Apr. 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
Peter Martin paints the scene from a recent military conclave in Rome.
—Jonathan Tamari, Bloomberg, 7 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for conclave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conclave
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
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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
Noun
-
Across the half mile that separated us, the stern gaze of the villagers was an impediment to our meeting.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 May 2026
-
This is the first year that the Nationals have engaged in formal meetings like these.—
Spencer Nusbaum,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Noun
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This year’s gathering included a performance from the San Diego Trans Chorus, a nonprofit group that performed at its first-ever pride event Saturday.—
Hannah Elsmore,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 May 2026
-
Greater Palm Springs Pride is organizing a gathering of Marilyn Monroe look-alikes in downtown Palm Springs this weekend, in honor of what would have been the Hollywood icon’s 100th birthday.—
Staff Photographer,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
Noun
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Also opposing her run were the president of the Broward Black Democratic caucus, the president of the Fort Lauderdale/Broward branch of the NAACP and the state Legislature’s Black caucus.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
27 May 2026
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That comes after the caucus last week called for Black athletes to boycott public universities in states that are gerrymandering congressional maps to eliminate districts held by Black lawmakers.—
Kim Chandler,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
The second and final day of the convention began with a delegate moving to, and the body agreeing to, hold a moment of silence for Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd.—
Jimmy Lovrien,
Twin Cities,
31 May 2026
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In a virtual presentation to the convention, Frances Patano with the state party described the efforts to turn out reliable Democratic voters and reach those who could be open to voting for someone other than a Republican.—
Stephen Fowler,
NPR,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Conclave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conclave. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
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