as in synod
formal
a private or secret meeting or group
a conclave of bishops
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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
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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
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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
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Aurelien Tchouameni, a player already at Real, is also being discussed in United meetings.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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During their first meeting, at Mar-a-Lago, in 2017, Xi famously learned about American strikes on Syria.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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During a time not unlike the one that ignited the historic founding of Chicano Park, thousands of people turned out Saturday at the iconic gathering space to celebrate their culture, stoke their heritage and press forward in their struggle.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
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For more than three decades, Taylor Books has been a cultural anchor and community gathering spot right in the heart of the state capital.—
Kat Chen,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Scott, who was seeking his 13th term in Congress despite challenges from within his party, was once a leading voice for Democrats on issues related to farm aid policy and food aid for consumers and a prominent Black member of the party’s moderate Blue Dog caucus.—
Bill Barrow,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
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The caucus was split as four Republicans joined with the majority Democrats in favor.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Reasonableness, like tolerance, is best seen as a convention of restraint, sustained because everyone remembers, however vaguely, what happens when the treaty collapses.—
Nikhil Krishnan,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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But before the general election, Stewart and two other candidates are scrambling for delegates who will vote on May 16 during the Republican Party’s convention at the Mohegan Sun casino.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Conclave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conclave. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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