as in synods
formal
a private or secret meeting or group
a conclave of bishops
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Recent Examples of conclaves
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
Behind the large wooden door, its frescoed walls closed to the general public reveal details of the compound's dramatic history, including papal conclaves and the Inquisition interrogation of Galileo Galilei.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
Parker Bach, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
Behind the large wooden door, its frescoed walls closed to the general public reveal details of the compound's dramatic history, including papal conclaves and the Inquisition interrogation of Galileo Galilei.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conclaves
Noun
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Jason Goldman, a onetime Google and Twitter executive, has helped to guide his explorations, joining him in meetings with Silicon Valley specialists and Biden-era federal employees.—
Peter Slevin,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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Cook County Public Guardian Charles Golbert, whose staff oversees the cases of more than 600 adults under guardianship and has helped champion the bill, said face-to-face meetings are standard practice in his office prior to appointment and are crucial to properly assessing the person’s needs.—
Christy Gutowski,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
Noun
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The Nuremberg rallies were simply political stage plays, with music from Wagner, drums, symmetrical marching formations, red flags, and gatherings often held in darkness to heighten the mood.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Apr. 2026
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Without a doubt, guests would never get such a light touch there, where the security protocol for large gatherings calls for checkpoints—sometimes several of them, including mandatory ID checks and physical screening.—
Shane Harris,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada have traditionally been among the first states to hold presidential primaries or caucuses, although neither party has set its formal presidential primary and caucus calendar yet.—
Oren Oppenheim,
ABC News,
23 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Rather than a traditional museum setting, the library offers a more open environment, where viewers may come across the work outside the conventions of gallery behavior.—
Miguel Sirgado,
Miami Herald,
6 May 2026
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The outcomes could be benign, tinkering around the edges of existing conventions, or more concerning limitations to the Fed's ability to use its balance sheet in a crisis.—
Steve Liesman,Matt Peterson,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Conclaves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conclaves. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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