CONFESSOR Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

confessor

noun

Definition of confessor

as in chaplain

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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 confessor Drawn to her difference, neighbors and coworkers treat Pavitra as a confessor and sounding board for their own preoccupations. — Miriam Gershow, Literary Hub, 1 Dec. 2025 Instead, the central question and driving force is how Aggie and Brian will lure Nile out of the walled fortress afforded by wealth and into the trap of spilling his guts to a confessor. — Alison Herman, Variety, 13 Nov. 2025 The automatic consequence for a confessor who breaks the seal of confession is excommunication – that is, banned, at least temporarily, from the sacraments of the church. — Timothy Gabrielli, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2025 In many cases, the handler is simultaneously confessor, babysitter, psychologist, spiritual mentor and surrogate family member. — Yossi Melman, ProPublica, 7 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for confessor

Recent Examples of Synonyms for confessor

Noun

The actor was born Timothy James Curry in Grappenhall, England, to a Royal Navy chaplain and a school secretary on April 19, 1946.

— Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026
His mother was a school secretary while his father was a Methodist chaplain in the Royal Navy.

— Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of chaplain

Noun

Pernkopf was a Nazi functionary who became dean of the medical faculty in 1938 and rector of the university in 1943.

— Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
The Rectory As the name suggests, The Rectory was originally home to the rector of nearby All Saints’ Church and his 14 children.

— Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2026

Definition of rector

Noun

The couple were married by a female vicar, per the Daily Mail.

— Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026
Nearly every murder is solved by the end of the episode, but despite the unusual twist of having the village vicar team up with the police, the real action comes from the relationships among the characters.

— Pat Saperstein, Variety, 14 June 2026

Definition of vicar

Noun

This one stars Cox himself as a mysterious and formidable old man in an undertaker’s suit and parson’s hat who wanders into an Arizona border town in 1890 to gather the names of dead Mexican laborers.

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026
And what does the old man who sleeps by the fire know about the dead parson?

— Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 25 Jan. 2026

Definition of parson

Noun

Man of books and learning Several of the videos show Athanasius of Alexandria, a fourth-century bishop and theologian traditionally considered one of the church fathers.

— Denva Gallant, The Conversation, 8 July 2026
Juan José Gerardi Conedera (born December 27, 1922, Guatemala City, Guatemala—killed April 26, 1998, Guatemala City) was a Guatemalan Roman Catholic bishop and human rights activist.

— Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 July 2026

Definition of bishop

Noun

The abbot eventually suspended the monk from his clerical duties a few months ago and the pair’s relationship worsened, per the outlet.

— Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026
The court found that Shi used his positions, including as the temple abbot, to illegally embezzle more than $19 million alone or in conspiracy with others, between 2003 and 2025, CCTV reported.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026

Definition of abbot

Noun

As negotiations resumed under the mediation of the Roman Catholic archbishop of Cochabamba, Tito Solari, hopes briefly rose that the monthslong conflict might finally be nearing an end.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 2026
The mother of the former finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was taken; so were an Anglican archbishop and his wife.

— Alexis Okeowo, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of archbishop

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“Confessor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confessor. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of confessor

noun

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