CONFESSOR Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

confessor

noun

Definition of confessor

as in chaplain

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 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

Chaneyfield also was the chaplain for Compassionate Care Hospice in Lakeland and had previously been employed by Crystal Lake Middle School as a substitute teacher.

— David K. Li, NBC news, 5 Aug. 2026
Joanna Whaley, a hospital chaplain who won the Democratic primary on Tuesday for a Michigan state House seat, could become the first transgender person elected to the state’s legislature.

— Amy B Wang, Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of chaplain

Noun

One is in the church with the pastor expressing his anger about Lou being gone.

— Ronda Racha Penrice, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 2026
After spending 266 days in prison, Ezra Jin Mingri, the Christian pastor of the underground Zion Church in Beijing, arrived in the United States on July 5.

— The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 28 July 2026

Definition of pastor

Noun

There was only one doctor left in the country who could do it, neurosurgeon Volodymyr Smolanka, acting rector of Uzhhorod National University.

— Elaine Pofeldt, Forbes.com, 20 June 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

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 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
According to a relative of Nathan who provided some of the sources Amit studied, the abbot reportedly also wrote letters to the Vatican and to monasteries in Switzerland pleading for a safe exit for Wolfgang.

— Jackie Hajdenberg, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026

Definition of abbot

Noun

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
Saint Agnes, a historic church founded for German-speaking immigrants in what’s now a diverse, central neighborhood in Minnesota’s capital, offers one traditional Latin Mass per weekend, with the archbishop’s permission.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026

Definition of archbishop

Browse Nearby Words

confessions

confessor

confessors

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Confessor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confessor. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of confessor

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on confessor

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

nurture

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes