doctrinal

Definition of doctrinalnext

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 doctrinal What are its doctrinal objectives if not colorblindness? Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 5 Mar. 2026 His rigorist doctrinal chief, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger—the future Benedict XVI—had moved to restrict Gutiérrez and other liberation theologians, leading to a standoff with CELAM, which had a long history with him. Paul Elie, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026 Two commissions studying the question of women in the diaconate, keeping discernment alive even without doctrinal change. Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 30 Nov. 2025 Emperor Constantine convened the First Council of Nicaea, bringing bishops from across the Roman Empire to resolve a doctrinal crisis over how to explain Jesus' relation to God. Ruth Sherlock, NPR, 28 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for doctrinal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for doctrinal
Adjective
  • For something more philosophical, Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, has been operating since 1962 as a holistic retreat and nonprofit educational institute inspired by the human potential movement.
    Lauren Schuster, Sacbee.com, 9 May 2026
  • When a hot philosophical surfer (Condessa) takes them on a tour, a wildly funny, sensual, emotional journey unfolds — towards connection, catharsis, and coming back to life.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 6 May 2026
Adjective
  • The messaging from China’s Communist government may once have been dogmatic and rigid — not anymore.
    ABC News, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
  • For many — especially free-spirited hippies, wooks, and the whole wide jam-band universe — the dogmatic style of traditional programs can be a turnoff, an impediment to accessing a path forward.
    David Manheim, Rolling Stone, 19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Instead, Mahan comes across as super competent, not ideological, and a bit rehearsed.
    Robin Abcarian, Mercury News, 14 May 2026
  • The biggest challenge will be to rebuild the office by recruiting the highest quality staff and attorneys, and establishing an ethical culture of serving the needs of the state rather than an ideological agenda.
    Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
Adjective
  • Enthralled by Felipe Rose, a go-go boy decked out in Native American regalia at the Anvil, a notorious gay Manhattan disco, Morali applied that approach to his next conceptual act, Village People.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2026
  • Turkish defense officials stated that the project is not limited to a conceptual display and has moved into an active development and testing phase.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 8 May 2026
Adjective
  • These proposals rely heavily on theoretical risk models, selective interpretation of data and precautionary assumptions rather than demonstrated real-world patterns of harm sufficient to justify criminalization.
    Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 8 May 2026
  • This entry introduces the concept of media dependency through one of the most influential theories, the media dependency system model, and its relation to other theoretical frameworks such as uses and gratifications theory and the power dependency model.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026
Adjective
  • Leo opened his visit to Pompeii by meeting with sick and disabled people who are cared for by a charity center affiliated with the sanctuary, which Leo’s namesake, Pope Leo XIII, declared a pontifical basilica in 1901.
    ABC News, ABC News, 8 May 2026
  • That public spat has overshadowed his pontifical tour of four African countries, which ended Thursday with a Mass for thousands of people in Malabo, the former capital of Equatorial Guinea.
    Claudio Lavanga, NBC news, 23 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Doctrinal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/doctrinal. Accessed 16 May. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster